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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. rock — a stone
  5. hand — in cards
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. rock — music
  10. deal — to handle
  11. pass — a permit
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. hand — help
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. bass — the fish
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bass — low music
  20. face — part of the head
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. face — to point toward
  24. face — to confront

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