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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: deal · roll · leaves · can · ground · rock · rash · safe

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. deal — to handle
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rash — a series
  8. rock — music
  9. ground — crushed
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. rock — a stone
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. roll — a cake
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. ground — the earth
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. ground — a position
  23. roll — a list
  24. can — a tin

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