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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: deal · lie · jam · mark · calf · leaves · bank · saw

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. lie — to recline
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. saw — the tool
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. bank — for money
  14. saw — the tool
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. bank — for money
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. mark — a trace
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bank — of a river
  23. mark — a grade
  24. deal — to handle

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