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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. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. cue — a hint
  3. can — to be able to
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. saw — the tool
  6. can — a tin
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. track — to keep track
  9. cue — a signal
  10. mark — a grade
  11. can — a tin
  12. track — a song
  13. cue — for pool
  14. track — a path
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. saw — the tool
  17. mark — a trace
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. dip — to sink
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. safe — out of danger

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