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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 120 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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  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. sharp — with an edge
  2. firm — steady
  3. firm — a company
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. deal — to handle
  6. lie — to recline
  7. bore — to drill
  8. sharp — clever
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. bore — to tire
  13. current — of water
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. current — happening now
  16. bark — to shout
  17. current — electric
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. firm — decided
  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