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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 120 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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. mug — a cup
  3. ball — a dance
  4. row — a line
  5. drill — army training
  6. ball — a great time
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. mug — to rob
  9. rock — music
  10. row — to paddle
  11. staff — a stick
  12. drill — the tool
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mug — a face
  17. rock — a stone
  18. staff — employees
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. drill — a practice
  24. staff — employees

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