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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. firm — a company
  3. fine — high quality
  4. rash — a series
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. mark — a trace
  7. rest — what's left
  8. rest — a break
  9. rest — what's left
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. firm — steady
  15. fine — all right
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. deal — to handle
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. mark — a grade
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. rash — hasty
  23. firm — decided
  24. nail — for a hammer

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