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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 ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mark — a grade
  4. board — a committee
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. lie — to recline
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. perch — the fish
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. board — to get on
  13. season — in sport
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. dip — to sink
  17. rock — music
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. season — of the year

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