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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.

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: suit · hand · file · mug · deal · stick · track · arm

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. file — a document
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. suit — clothes
  5. mug — a cup
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. suit — in cards
  8. file — a line of people
  9. track — a path
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. hand — help
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. hand — in cards
  16. file — a tool
  17. track — to keep track
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. deal — to handle
  20. track — a song
  21. suit — to fit
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mug — a face
  24. arm — a part of something

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