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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. staff — employees
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. bear — the animal
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. deal — to handle
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. fall — to drop
  9. plane — a tool
  10. season — of the year
  11. kid — to tease
  12. fall — the season
  13. staff — employees
  14. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. fall — to drop
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. staff — a stick
  20. bear — the animal
  21. kid — child
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. season — in sport
  24. temple — a place of worship

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