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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: kid · straw · mug · roll · deal · rock · fan · toast

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. roll — a list
  3. toast — bread
  4. mug — to rob
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. mug — a cup
  8. rock — music
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. mug — a face
  13. kid — child
  14. kid — to tease
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. rock — a stone
  18. deal — to handle
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. roll — a cake
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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