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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. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  11. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. deal — to handle
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bore — to drill
  9. fine — high quality
  10. bat — the animal
  11. bat — for baseball
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bore — to tire
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. fine — all right

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