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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. lean — to bend
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. mark — a trace
  6. ground — the earth
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. mug — a face
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. rock — music
  17. ground — crushed
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. ground — a position
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. lean — thin
  24. mug — a cup

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