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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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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: deal · saw · mouse · toast · bore · straw · rest · bound

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bound — obliged
  11. deal — to handle
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bore — to tire
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rest — a break
  18. saw — the tool
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bound — certain
  22. bore — to drill
  23. toast — bread
  24. bound — tied together

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