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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: lie · bass · bear · deal · track · mark · calf · fine

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. track — to keep track
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bass — the fish
  5. track — a song
  6. deal — to handle
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. mark — a trace
  11. fine — all right
  12. lie — to recline
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bass — low music
  18. mark — a grade
  19. bear — the animal
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. fine — high quality
  22. track — a path
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. calf — of the leg

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