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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 120 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: snap · leaves · last · deal · file · lie · pop · mouse

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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. snap — to snap out of it
  4. lie — to recline
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. file — a line of people
  8. last — finally
  9. file — a document
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. snap — to click
  13. pop — to visit
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. pop — soda
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. last — to go on
  18. pop — music
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. last — final
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. file — a tool

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