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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: cabinet · hide · last · pitcher · fall · deal · bank · calf

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. deal — to handle
  3. bank — for money
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. fall — the season
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. fall — to drop
  8. last — finally
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. last — final
  11. fall — to drop
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bank — for money
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. bank — of a river
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. last — to go on

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