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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. hand — in cards
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. firm — decided
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. suit — clothes
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. deal — to handle
  11. perch — the fish
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. suit — in cards
  14. hand — help
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bass — the fish
  17. suit — to fit
  18. ball — a great time
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. firm — a company
  23. bass — low music
  24. firm — steady

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