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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 goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. march — music
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. march — the month
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. deal — to handle
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. march — the month
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. rock — a stone
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rock — music
  18. bore — to tire
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. bore — to drill

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