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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. rock — a stone
  4. ball — a great time
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. ball — a dance
  9. root — of a word
  10. mine — for digging
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. rush — hurry
  14. root — of a plant
  15. pass — a permit
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. deal — to handle
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. rock — music
  22. root — the cause
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mine — belonging to me

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