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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 116 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: safe · court · hand · deal · snap · staff · bay · mug

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. court — of a king
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. hand — help
  8. mug — a cup
  9. staff — employees
  10. court — for sport
  11. staff — a stick
  12. mug — a face
  13. deal — to handle
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. mug — to rob
  16. court — of law
  17. snap — to click
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. staff — employees
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. hand — in cards
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. safe — out of danger

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