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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 116 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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. drill — army training
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. wound — an injury
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. face — to point toward
  8. face — part of the head
  9. drill — a practice
  10. swing — to play on
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. squash — to crush
  14. drill — the tool
  15. squash — the sport
  16. swing — music
  17. face — to confront
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. pound — a weight
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wound — an injury

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