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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: club · roll · fall · mug · deal · sharp · rash · bay

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. roll — a cake
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. club — a group
  7. club — for dancing
  8. deal — to handle
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. sharp — clever
  12. club — for golf
  13. roll — a list
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. fall — to drop
  17. fall — to drop
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. fall — the season
  20. rash — a series
  21. mug — to rob
  22. rash — hasty
  23. mug — a face
  24. mug — a cup

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