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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 116 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. spring — of water
  3. deal — to handle
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. spring — a coil
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. pop — to visit
  11. current — electric
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. current — happening now
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. pop — music
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. pop — soda
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. current — of water
  24. spring — the season

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