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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: roll · deal · snap · safe · pop · stand · dip · mine

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. deal — to handle
  3. pop — to visit
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. snap — to click
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. pop — soda
  16. pop — music
  17. stand — to bear
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. roll — a list
  20. dip — to sink
  21. mine — for digging
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. roll — a cake
  24. mine — belonging to me

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