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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. bound — obliged
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. current — happening now
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. dip — to sink
  10. current — electric
  11. hand — help
  12. foot — a measure
  13. bound — tied together
  14. current — of water
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. bound — certain
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. deal — to handle
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. calf — a young animal

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