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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 120 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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. stem — to come from
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. can — a tin
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. can — a tin
  8. fall — the season
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rash — hasty
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. fall — to drop
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. deal — to handle
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. fall — to drop
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rash — a series

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