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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. roll — a cake
  3. deal — to handle
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. chip — to eat
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. mark — a trace
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. chip — for betting
  15. can — a tin
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. bank — of a river
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. mark — a grade
  22. bank — for money
  23. bank — for money
  24. roll — a list

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