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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. rock — music
  3. toast — bread
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. ground — the earth
  8. mug — a face
  9. deal — to handle
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. ball — a dance
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. ground — a position
  16. ball — a great time
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. ground — crushed
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. rock — a stone
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mug — a cup
  24. mug — to rob

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