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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. race — a contest
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. can — a tin
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. net — after costs
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. deal — to handle
  11. net — in sport
  12. net — for catching
  13. rash — hasty
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. dip — to sink
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. toast — bread
  21. race — humankind
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — to be able to
  24. race — the arms race

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