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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 116 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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. pop — to visit
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. can — to be able to
  5. snap — to click
  6. pop — music
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. dip — to sink
  9. pop — soda
  10. cue — a hint
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. deal — to handle
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. cue — for pool
  19. can — a tin
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. cue — a signal
  23. can — a tin
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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