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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. prune — to trim
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. saw — the tool
  11. ball — a dance
  12. current — happening now
  13. current — of water
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. bound — obliged
  16. current — electric
  17. bound — certain
  18. bound — tied together
  19. prune — to trim
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. ball — a great time
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. saw — the tool
  24. dip — a sauce

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