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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. chest — a box
  3. bound — tied together
  4. drill — a practice
  5. dip — to sink
  6. chest — of your body
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. sharp — clever
  9. mate — to breed
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. chest — of your body
  13. bound — certain
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. mate — a friend
  16. drill — army training
  17. mate — a partner
  18. drill — the tool
  19. pitch — completely
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. bound — obliged
  24. dip — a sauce

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