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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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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 · snap · deal · fine · stem · bay · coach · cabinet

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. snap — to click
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. deal — to handle
  5. fine — high quality
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. fine — all right
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. stem — to come from
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. lean — thin
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. lean — to bend
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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