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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: toast · deal · saw · snap · pitcher · arm · staff · wave

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. toast — bread
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. staff — a stick
  7. staff — employees
  8. deal — to handle
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. saw — the tool
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. staff — employees
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. snap — to click
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. saw — the tool
  24. arm — part of the body

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