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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. dip — to sink
  3. fall — to drop
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. fall — the season
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. fine — high quality
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. deal — to handle
  15. rash — a series
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. rash — hasty
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. stand — to bear
  22. fall — to drop
  23. fine — all right
  24. deal — an agreement

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