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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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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. deal — to handle
  3. staff — a stick
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. stem — to come from
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. rush — hurry
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. wake — a trail
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. staff — employees
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. hand — help
  19. pass — a permit
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. staff — employees
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. pass — to spend 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