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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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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. current — electric
  4. mine — for digging
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. current — happening now
  8. current — of water
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. bear — the animal
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. branch — a division
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bear — the animal
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. scale — in music
  24. scale — size or range

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