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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. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  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. content — the amount
  2. mug — a cup
  3. bore — to tire
  4. pop — music
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. deal — to handle
  7. mug — a face
  8. pitch — completely
  9. pop — to visit
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. track — to keep track
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. track — a path
  14. content — happy
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. pop — soda
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. track — a song
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. mug — to rob
  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