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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. ground — crushed
  7. bark — to shout
  8. saw — the tool
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. ground — a position
  12. charge — electricity
  13. rock — music
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. charge — a price
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. saw — the tool
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. charge — in control
  23. rock — a stone
  24. snap — to click

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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