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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. drill — army training
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. deal — to handle
  7. bear — the animal
  8. mark — a grade
  9. board — to get on
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. drill — the tool
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. drill — a practice
  17. fine — all right
  18. board — a committee
  19. bear — the animal
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. mark — a trace
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. fine — high quality
  24. pitcher — a jug

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