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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. mug — a face
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. band — a music group
  5. band — a ring
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. march — the month
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. wake — a trail
  11. mug — to rob
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mug — a cup
  16. deal — to handle
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. march — music
  19. bear — the animal
  20. lie — to recline
  21. bear — the animal
  22. march — the month
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. band — a rubber band

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