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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. rash — a series
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. can — to be able to
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. snap — to click
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. chip — to eat
  15. chip — for betting
  16. can — a tin
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. rash — hasty
  20. can — a tin
  21. wake — a trail
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. deal — to handle
  24. safe — out of danger

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