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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. bound — certain
  4. lie — to recline
  5. bound — obliged
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. staff — employees
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. staff — employees
  12. charge — in control
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. mine — for digging
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. charge — electricity
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. charge — a price
  21. hand — help
  22. bound — tied together
  23. staff — a stick
  24. deal — to handle

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