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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: pound · craft · key · hand · can · season · calf · dip

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. can — to be able to
  4. key — the most important part
  5. hand — help
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. season — in sport
  9. can — a tin
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. pound — a weight
  14. can — a tin
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. key — for a lock
  17. season — of the year
  18. craft — a skill
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. hand — in cards
  21. key — in music
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. dip — to sink
  24. craft — boats

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