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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 120 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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. deal — to handle
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. bore — to drill
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pop — to visit
  10. wake — a trail
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bore — to tire
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. pop — music
  19. dip — to sink
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. pop — soda

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