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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: saw · mug · bear · rock · bowl · stand

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. saw — the tool
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. mug — a cup
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. mug — a face
  13. rock — music
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. saw — the tool
  18. stand — to bear

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