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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: tube · bank · key · ball · season · craft · mug · kick

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. season — of the year
  3. craft — a skill
  4. bank — for money
  5. mug — a cup
  6. tube — a container
  7. bank — for money
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. craft — boats
  10. key — for a lock
  11. ball — a great time
  12. mug — to rob
  13. kick — in football
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. bank — of a river
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. ball — a dance
  19. tube — the underground
  20. key — the most important part
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. mug — a face
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. key — in music

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