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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. staff — employees
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. prune — to trim
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bass — the fish
  9. season — in sport
  10. staff — employees
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. prune — to trim
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — for light
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. season — of the year
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. bass — low music
  23. staff — a stick
  24. arm — part of the body

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