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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. roll — a list
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. club — for dancing
  5. drill — the tool
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. content — the amount
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. club — for golf
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. mate — a friend
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. roll — a cake
  14. drill — army training
  15. mate — a partner
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. club — a group
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. mate — to breed
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. content — happy
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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