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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. mark — a grade
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. deal — to handle
  9. bear — the animal
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. pound — a weight
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. bear — the animal
  20. mark — a trace
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. hand — help

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