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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. capital — a city
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bound — obliged
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. capital — money
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. bound — tied together
  10. hand — help
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. capital — a big letter
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. lie — to recline
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. bound — certain
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. staff — a stick
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. staff — employees
  24. staff — employees

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