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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. mug — a face
  7. key — for a lock
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. wound — an injury
  11. key — in music
  12. key — the most important part
  13. deal — to handle
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. mug — to rob
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. wound — an injury
  21. sharp — clever
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. toast — bread
  24. deal — a big deal

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