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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 120 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 · ball · stand · nail · press · pitcher · rock · calf

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. rock — music
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. press — newspapers
  10. ball — a dance
  11. craft — a skill
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. ball — a great time
  14. stand — to bear
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. rock — a stone
  18. press — a publisher
  19. press — to push
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. craft — boats
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. rock — to move gently

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