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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: racket · key · mark · craft · spell · staff · mug · coach

  1. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. key — the most important part
  3. key — in music
  4. staff — employees
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. key — for a lock
  8. spell — magic
  9. mug — a cup
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. spell — letters
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. staff — a stick
  14. staff — employees
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. craft — a skill
  17. mug — a face
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. mug — to rob
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mark — a grade
  23. spell — a short time
  24. coach — a trainer

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