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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bank — for money
  9. bulb — for light
  10. foot — a measure
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. deal — to handle
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. bulb — for light
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. hand — in cards
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. bank — for money
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bank — of a river
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. deal — a big deal

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