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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 116 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: leaves · safe · deal · hide · rush · present · firm · kid

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. rush — hurry
  4. deal — to handle
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. firm — decided
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. firm — a company
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. present — the time now
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. kid — to tease
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. present — a gift
  23. kid — child
  24. present — there

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