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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. suit — clothes
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. craft — a skill
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. craft — boats
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wound — an injury
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. cap — of ice
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. suit — in cards
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. suit — to fit
  22. cap — a hat
  23. cap — a lid
  24. deal — an agreement

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