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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. fall — the season
  4. rock — a stone
  5. mark — a trace
  6. dip — to sink
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. foot — a measure
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. mine — for digging
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. rock — music
  17. mark — a grade
  18. fall — to drop
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. rush — hurry
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. fall — to drop
  24. foot — part of the body

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