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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: track · toast · bowl · safe · hand · bore · stem · deal

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. deal — to handle
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. toast — bread
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. track — a song
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. stem — to come from
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. bore — to drill
  14. hand — in cards
  15. track — a path
  16. track — to keep track
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. hand — help
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bore — to tire

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