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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: pitcher · rock · scale · bore · nail · craft · pit · season

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. scale — in music
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. rock — a stone
  7. scale — size or range
  8. season — in sport
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. pit — a hole
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. rock — music
  18. bore — to tire
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. craft — boats
  21. craft — a skill
  22. pit — in a race
  23. bore — to drill
  24. season — of the year

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