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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. hand — in cards
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — a grade
  9. deal — to handle
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. bear — the animal
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. bound — tied together
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bound — certain
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. hand — help
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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