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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: band · ball · bat · bowl · drill · rock · fan · fine

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. ball — a great time
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. bat — the animal
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. rock — music
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. fine — all right
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. band — a music group
  15. drill — the tool
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. fine — high quality
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. drill — army training
  22. ball — a dance
  23. band — a ring
  24. fan — a supporter

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