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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. deal — to handle
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. ball — a dance
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. ball — a great time
  13. tube — the underground
  14. tube — a container
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. fine — all right
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. fine — high quality
  24. nail — on a finger

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