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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. pop — music
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. bear — the animal
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. bark — to shout
  8. deal — to handle
  9. bear — the animal
  10. court — for sport
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — for money
  13. court — of a king
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. wound — an injury
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. bank — of a river
  19. wound — an injury
  20. pop — soda
  21. court — of law
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. pop — to visit

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