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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. degree — temperature
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. mark — a grade
  8. march — music
  9. bear — the animal
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. mark — a trace
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. degree — from a university
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. bear — the animal
  19. march — the month
  20. degree — an amount
  21. march — the month
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. bowl — a dish

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