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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 need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. mug — to rob
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. mug — a face
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. net — after costs
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. toast — bread
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. firm — steady
  16. net — in sport
  17. net — for catching
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. mug — a cup
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. firm — a company
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. firm — decided

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