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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: snap · fine · deal · trunk · game · present · arm · lash

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. game — wild animals
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. deal — to handle
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. present — the time now
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. game — a match
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. fine — all right
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. snap — to click
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. fine — high quality
  24. present — a gift

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