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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. mug — to rob
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. current — happening now
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rash — hasty
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. mug — a cup
  15. rash — a series
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. current — electric
  18. bear — the animal
  19. mug — a face
  20. perch — the fish
  21. current — of water
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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