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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 ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. toast — bread
  3. dip — to sink
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. face — to point toward
  6. face — to confront
  7. press — newspapers
  8. mark — a grade
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. face — part of the head
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. march — music
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. march — the month
  17. mark — a trace
  18. press — to push
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. press — a publisher
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. march — the month
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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