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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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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. march — the month
  5. scale — size or range
  6. drill — the tool
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. mug — to rob
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. drill — army training
  11. deal — to handle
  12. bulb — for light
  13. march — music
  14. drill — a practice
  15. mate — a friend
  16. mate — to breed
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. scale — in music
  19. mug — a cup
  20. mate — a partner
  21. march — the month
  22. bulb — for light
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. bulb — of a plant

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