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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 120 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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. rash — a series
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. tube — the underground
  8. track — a path
  9. tube — a container
  10. pass — a permit
  11. track — to keep track
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. pitch — completely
  18. rash — hasty
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. dip — to sink
  22. saw — the tool
  23. track — a song
  24. pass — to spend time

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