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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. deal — to handle
  3. clip — for paper
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mark — a grade
  7. clip — a video
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. clip — to cut
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — a stone
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. mark — a trace
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — to recline
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. rock — music
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. stand — to bear
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. pitcher — a jug

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