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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 116 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: drill · rush · dip · bowl · coach · snap · bear · deal

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. drill — the tool
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. bear — the animal
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. drill — a practice
  9. dip — to sink
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. deal — to handle
  12. rush — hurry
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. drill — army training
  22. bear — the animal
  23. snap — to click
  24. deal — an agreement

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