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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. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. charge — in control
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. rock — a stone
  7. mug — a cup
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. ground — the earth
  12. degree — from a university
  13. ground — a position
  14. charge — electricity
  15. mug — to rob
  16. roll — a list
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. ground — crushed
  19. roll — a cake
  20. degree — an amount
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mug — a face
  23. rock — music
  24. charge — a price

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