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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. rock — a stone
  3. band — a music group
  4. band — a ring
  5. mark — a grade
  6. bore — to drill
  7. swing — music
  8. pop — soda
  9. sharp — clever
  10. mark — a trace
  11. pop — music
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — music
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. swing — to play on
  16. swing — in golf
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. pop — to visit
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. bore — to tire
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. mouse — the animal

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