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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: craft · fork · cap · mark · ball · pitch · bay · pitcher

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. mark — a trace
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitch — completely
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. ball — a dance
  7. fork — in a road
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. ball — a great time
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. craft — a skill
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. cap — of ice
  16. cap — a lid
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. craft — boats
  22. mark — a grade
  23. cap — a hat
  24. fork — to eat with

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com