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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. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. present — there
  3. staff — employees
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. rash — a series
  7. ground — crushed
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. ground — a position
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. ground — the earth
  13. present — the time now
  14. staff — a stick
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. rash — hasty
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. staff — employees
  19. present — a gift
  20. deal — to handle
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. rash — on the skin

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