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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. mug — to rob
  7. season — of the year
  8. mug — a cup
  9. game — a match
  10. deal — to handle
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. game — wild animals
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. season — in sport
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. mug — a face
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. chair — a leader
  24. deal — an agreement

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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