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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. saw — the tool
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. swing — in golf
  5. pass — a permit
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. saw — the tool
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. spell — magic
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. toast — bread
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a face
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. scale — size or range
  18. scale — in music
  19. swing — to play on
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. swing — music
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. mug — a cup
  24. spell — letters

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