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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. spell — a short time
  3. spell — letters
  4. spell — magic
  5. deal — to handle
  6. pound — a weight
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. bank — for money
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bank — for money
  18. wound — an injury
  19. bulb — for light
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. wound — an injury
  22. lie — to recline
  23. bank — of a river
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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