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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 was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. rest — what's left
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. ball — a dance
  6. mug — to rob
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bear — the animal
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. rest — a break
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. toast — bread
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mug — a cup
  20. rest — what's left
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. mine — for digging
  23. mug — a face
  24. bear — to put up with

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