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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. file — a document
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. file — a line of people
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. bore — to tire
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bore — to drill
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. deal — to handle
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. file — a tool

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