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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. charge — electricity
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. pop — music
  8. charge — a price
  9. charge — in control
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. pop — to visit
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bound — obliged
  15. pop — soda
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bound — certain
  18. fork — in a road
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. deal — to handle

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