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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 120 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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bear — the animal
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. deal — to handle
  6. scale — in music
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. perch — the fish
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. scale — size or range
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. nail — on a finger

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