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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. mug — a cup
  4. track — a song
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. track — to keep track
  7. track — a path
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. mug — to rob
  13. sharp — clever
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. mug — a face
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. deal — to handle
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. temple — a place of worship

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