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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 · present · can · sharp · hide · ball · scale · lash

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. can — to be able to
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. present — there
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. scale — in music
  11. present — a gift
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. can — a tin
  14. ball — a great time
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. ball — a dance
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. can — a tin
  20. deal — to handle
  21. sharp — clever
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. scale — size or range

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