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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. wind — moving air
  3. mug — a cup
  4. dip — to sink
  5. pound — to hit hard
  6. mug — a face
  7. wind — moving air
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mark — a trace
  14. mark — a grade
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. current — happening now
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. foot — a measure
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. current — electric
  22. current — of water
  23. pound — a weight
  24. wind — to turn a key

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