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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. chip — to eat
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — music
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. chip — for betting
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. date — the fruit
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. dip — to sink
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. vault — a safe
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rush — hurry
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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