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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. present — there
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. present — a gift
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. present — the time now
  10. hand — help
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. hand — in cards
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. toast — bread
  16. pound — a weight
  17. deal — to handle
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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