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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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: lash · toast · mark · deal · safe · ground · fan · hand

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. deal — to handle
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. hand — in cards
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a grade
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. mark — a trace
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. ground — a position
  16. ground — crushed
  17. toast — bread
  18. ground — the earth
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. hand — help
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. safe — out of danger

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