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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. bear — the animal
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. drill — a practice
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. bear — the animal
  7. drill — army training
  8. mug — to rob
  9. pop — to visit
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. wax — to grow
  15. drill — the tool
  16. mug — a face
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. mug — a cup
  22. mine — for digging
  23. pop — soda
  24. pop — music

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