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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bass — the fish
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bass — low music
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. spell — letters
  9. deal — to handle
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. lie — to recline
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. spell — a short time
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. spell — magic
  22. rock — a stone
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rock — music

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