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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. can — a tin
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. hand — in cards
  5. suit — in cards
  6. hand — help
  7. charge — in control
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. can — to be able to
  10. bark — to shout
  11. deal — to handle
  12. cue — a signal
  13. suit — to fit
  14. can — a tin
  15. cue — a hint
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. charge — electricity
  18. cue — for pool
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. charge — a price
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. toast — bread

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