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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. rash — hasty
  6. deal — to handle
  7. dip — to sink
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. spell — letters
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. spell — magic
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. object — an aim
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. snap — to click
  18. rash — a series
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. object — to protest
  21. rush — hurry
  22. object — a thing
  23. spell — a short time
  24. rush — to hurry

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