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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. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. deal — to handle
  4. lie — to recline
  5. toast — bread
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. kid — child
  8. cue — a signal
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. kid — to tease
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bear — the animal
  18. cue — for pool
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. cue — a hint
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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