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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. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. foot — a measure
  5. hand — in cards
  6. fine — high quality
  7. bank — for money
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. key — the most important part
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. fine — all right
  15. bank — of a river
  16. key — in music
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. hand — help
  19. deal — to handle
  20. bank — for money
  21. key — for a lock
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. squash — the sport
  24. hand — part of the body

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