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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. deal — to handle
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. saw — the tool
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. cap — a hat
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. cap — a lid
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. cap — of ice
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. saw — the tool
  24. hide — to keep secret

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