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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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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 · calf · pass · pit · drill · bay · jam · cue

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. deal — to handle
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. drill — a practice
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. drill — the tool
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. cue — a signal
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. cue — for pool
  14. pit — in a race
  15. cue — a hint
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. pass — a permit
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. drill — army training
  22. pit — a hole
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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