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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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. drill — a practice
  3. mug — a cup
  4. pop — music
  5. pitch — completely
  6. pop — soda
  7. land — ground
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. stock — shares
  12. mug — to rob
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. stock — goods
  16. land — to come down
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. toast — bread
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. land — a country
  22. drill — army training
  23. pop — to visit
  24. mug — a face

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