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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 120 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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. can — a tin
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. squash — to crush
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. foot — a measure
  7. degree — an amount
  8. bore — to drill
  9. can — to be able to
  10. pop — music
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. can — a tin
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. degree — from a university
  15. pop — soda
  16. plane — a tool
  17. ball — a great time
  18. pop — to visit
  19. degree — temperature
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. squash — the sport
  22. ball — a dance
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. bore — to tire

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