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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: toast · mate · deal · roll · drill · hand · dip · pass

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. dip — to sink
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. mate — to breed
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. hand — help
  8. roll — a cake
  9. pass — a permit
  10. hand — in cards
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. mate — a friend
  14. toast — bread
  15. drill — the tool
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. drill — army training
  18. deal — to handle
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. roll — a list
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. mate — a partner

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