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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 120 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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pound — a weight
  6. mug — to rob
  7. bass — low music
  8. degree — an amount
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. bass — the fish
  12. degree — from a university
  13. wind — moving air
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mug — a face
  16. degree — temperature
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. wind — moving air
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. mug — a cup
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wind — to turn a key

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