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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: staff · lie · bark · deal · nail · chip · can · roll

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. roll — a list
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. lie — to recline
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bark — to shout
  8. roll — a cake
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. staff — employees
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. staff — a stick
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. staff — employees
  17. chip — for betting
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — to be able to
  21. deal — to handle
  22. can — a tin
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. chip — to eat

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