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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: mine · leaves · deal · fan · ball · bore · stick · ground

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. bore — to tire
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ground — a position
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. bore — to drill
  13. ground — crushed
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mine — for digging
  20. deal — to handle
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. ball — a great time

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