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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 120 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
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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: foot · racket · season · squash · cabinet · firm · mug · deal

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. mug — to rob
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. firm — decided
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. mug — a face
  11. foot — a measure
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. squash — to crush
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. deal — to handle
  17. squash — the sport
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. firm — steady
  21. season — of the year
  22. season — in sport
  23. mug — a cup
  24. deal — an agreement

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