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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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. track — a song
  4. key — the most important part
  5. board — to get on
  6. track — to keep track
  7. key — for a lock
  8. key — in music
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. fine — high quality
  12. board — a committee
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. bark — to shout
  21. track — a path
  22. fine — all right
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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