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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. mug — a face
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. mug — to rob
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bore — to drill
  13. spring — the season
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. spring — of water
  16. firm — steady
  17. bore — to tire
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. spring — a coil
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. firm — decided
  23. firm — a company
  24. stem — to come from

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