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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. bulb — for light
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bank — for money
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. bank — for money
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. cue — a hint
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bulb — for light
  14. stock — goods
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. wind — moving air
  17. deal — to handle
  18. cue — a signal
  19. bank — of a river
  20. wind — moving air
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. stock — shares
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. cue — for pool

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