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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. object — a thing
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. dip — to sink
  7. bulb — for light
  8. object — to protest
  9. rash — hasty
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. object — an aim
  12. rash — a series
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. face — to confront
  15. fine — high quality
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. face — to point toward
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. face — part of the head
  22. fine — all right
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. deal — to handle

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