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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. pop — to visit
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. season — of the year
  13. pop — soda
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. season — in sport
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pop — music
  18. dip — to sink
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. pitcher — a jug

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