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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: pass · rest · snap · deal · toast · pop · hand · cabinet

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. snap — to click
  4. hand — in cards
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. rest — what's left
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. rest — a break
  13. rest — what's left
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. pop — to visit
  17. deal — to handle
  18. toast — bread
  19. pop — music
  20. pop — soda
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. pass — a permit
  23. hand — help
  24. pass — to succeed

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