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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. drill — a practice
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. bound — certain
  6. sharp — clever
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. bear — the animal
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. mug — to rob
  14. drill — army training
  15. toast — bread
  16. mug — a face
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — obliged
  19. vault — a safe
  20. mug — a cup
  21. hand — help
  22. bear — the animal
  23. drill — the tool
  24. toast — the most admired

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