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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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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: lean · pitcher · can · fine · net · suit · saw · deal

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. fine — high quality
  3. saw — the tool
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. deal — to handle
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. net — in sport
  8. suit — to fit
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — all right
  15. suit — clothes
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. net — for catching
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. lean — to bend
  21. suit — in cards
  22. saw — the tool
  23. net — after costs
  24. fine — a penalty

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