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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. chip — to eat
  3. mug — a cup
  4. row — to paddle
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — the tool
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. spell — letters
  9. chip — for betting
  10. toast — bread
  11. spell — magic
  12. mark — a grade
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. spell — a short time
  15. drill — army training
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. mark — a trace
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. mug — a face
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. row — a line

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