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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 drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. fine — high quality
  4. hand — in cards
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. pop — music
  10. mark — a grade
  11. pop — soda
  12. hand — help
  13. mark — a trace
  14. fine — all right
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. pop — to visit
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lie — to recline
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. deal — to handle

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