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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. game — a match
  4. rule — a law
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. hand — help
  8. game — wild animals
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. lie — to recline
  11. pop — music
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pop — soda
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. deal — to handle
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. rule — government
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pop — to visit

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