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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cabinet · pitcher · toast · coach · craft · charge · spring · deal

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  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. coach — a trainer
  2. spring — of water
  3. charge — in control
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. charge — a price
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. craft — a skill
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. spring — a coil
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. spring — the season
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. charge — electricity
  20. deal — to handle
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. toast — bread
  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