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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.

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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: calf · lie · dip · cabinet · deal · rush · fine · spring

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. dip — to sink
  5. rush — hurry
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. lie — to recline
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. spring — a coil
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. spring — the season
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. spring — of water
  22. fine — high quality
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. fine — all right

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