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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  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. track — a path
  2. mug — a face
  3. track — a song
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. dip — to sink
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. wake — a trail
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. mug — a cup
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. pass — a permit
  20. mug — to rob
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. track — to keep track
  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