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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. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. can — a tin
  4. prune — to trim
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. pop — to visit
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. can — to be able to
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. season — of the year
  12. mug — a cup
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mug — a face
  15. pop — music
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. can — a tin
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. mug — to rob
  20. season — in sport
  21. pop — soda
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. prune — to trim

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