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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: mouse · toast · deal · ruler · mug · sharp · bore · straw

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. mug — a cup
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. deal — to handle
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. sharp — clever
  11. bore — to drill
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. mug — a face
  16. bore — to tire
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. toast — bread
  20. mug — to rob
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. straw — a straw man

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