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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 116 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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. rest — what's left
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. pop — music
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. pop — to visit
  8. hand — in cards
  9. hand — help
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. current — happening now
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — a break
  15. current — electric
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. current — of water
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. pop — soda
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. sharp — clever
  24. wave — with your hand

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