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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
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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: perch · lie · mug · season · pop · craft · pitch · deal

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. pop — soda
  5. mug — a face
  6. season — in sport
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. deal — to handle
  11. mug — to rob
  12. craft — boats
  13. mug — a cup
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. season — of the year
  16. perch — the fish
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. pop — music
  21. craft — a skill
  22. pitch — completely
  23. pop — to visit
  24. lie — to recline

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