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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. mug — a cup
  5. saw — the tool
  6. tube — a container
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. wound — an injury
  9. hand — help
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. mate — to breed
  12. mug — a face
  13. foot — a measure
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. wound — an injury
  17. hand — in cards
  18. tube — the underground
  19. saw — the tool
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. mate — a partner
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mug — to rob

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