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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 116 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. ground — crushed
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. ground — a position
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. hand — in cards
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. face — part of the head
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. face — to point toward
  14. ground — the earth
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. bore — to drill
  19. face — to confront
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. deal — to handle
  22. hand — help
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bore — to tire

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