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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. ball — a dance
  3. drill — the tool
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. lean — thin
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. ball — a great time
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. press — newspapers
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. wake — a trail
  14. plane — a tool
  15. lean — to bend
  16. drill — army training
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. press — to push
  23. mine — for digging
  24. press — a publisher

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