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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 met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. mine — for digging
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. saw — the tool
  13. spell — letters
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. saw — the tool
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. spell — magic
  22. spell — a short time
  23. mark — a grade
  24. ruler — a monarch

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