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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. wound — an injury
  8. staff — employees
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. suit — clothes
  12. pitch — completely
  13. wake — a trail
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. suit — to fit
  18. deal — to handle
  19. wound — an injury
  20. suit — in cards
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. staff — a stick
  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