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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 120 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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. branch — a division
  8. can — a tin
  9. lie — to recline
  10. deal — to handle
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mark — a grade
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. mark — a trace
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. can — to be able to
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. can — a tin
  24. branch — of a bank

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