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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. hand — help
  3. deal — to handle
  4. cue — a hint
  5. face — to point toward
  6. face — to confront
  7. ball — a dance
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. suit — clothes
  10. ball — a great time
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. suit — to fit
  14. cue — a signal
  15. face — part of the head
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. cue — for pool
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. suit — in cards
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. patient — a sick person

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