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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. drill — the tool
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. rock — a stone
  5. drill — a practice
  6. deal — to handle
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. stock — goods
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. stock — shares
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. mine — for digging
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. rock — music
  22. craft — boats
  23. craft — a skill
  24. leaves — to go away

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