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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. saw — the tool
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. mug — a face
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. deal — to handle
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pitch — completely
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. can — to be able to
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. mug — to rob
  20. saw — the tool
  21. can — a tin
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. can — a tin
  24. mug — a cup

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