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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. can — a tin
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. bore — to tire
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. can — to be able to
  7. saw — the tool
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. saw — the tool
  15. net — for catching
  16. net — in sport
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. can — a tin
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. net — after costs
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. calf — of the leg

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