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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 felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. mark — a trace
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. deal — to handle
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. firm — decided
  9. chest — a box
  10. mark — a grade
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. firm — a company
  14. kick — in football
  15. roll — a list
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. roll — a cake
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. firm — steady
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. chest — of your body
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. foot — a measure

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