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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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. drill — the tool
  3. track — a song
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. track — a path
  6. pop — to visit
  7. mark — a grade
  8. suit — to fit
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. ball — a dance
  13. pop — soda
  14. suit — clothes
  15. drill — army training
  16. drill — a practice
  17. tube — a container
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. track — to keep track
  20. pop — music
  21. tube — the underground
  22. suit — in cards
  23. mark — a trace
  24. ball — a great time

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