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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: deal · track · snap · swing · cabinet · hide · can · bear

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. can — a tin
  7. snap — to click
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bear — the animal
  10. track — to keep track
  11. deal — to handle
  12. track — a song
  13. track — a path
  14. can — a tin
  15. bear — the animal
  16. can — to be able to
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. swing — to play on
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. swing — in golf
  23. swing — music
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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