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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 ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. board — to get on
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. pitch — completely
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. deal — to handle
  12. mark — a grade
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. mark — a trace
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. board — a committee
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bat — the animal
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. bowl — a dish

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