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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: fine · object · spell · deal · arm · bowl · saw · lie

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. fine — high quality
  3. saw — the tool
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. object — to protest
  9. saw — the tool
  10. fine — all right
  11. lie — to recline
  12. deal — to handle
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. object — a thing
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. spell — a short time
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. object — an aim
  22. spell — letters
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. arm — part of the body

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