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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 like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. cap — a lid
  6. drill — a practice
  7. cap — a hat
  8. cap — of ice
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. roll — a cake
  13. drill — the tool
  14. roll — a list
  15. ground — a position
  16. drill — army training
  17. mark — a grade
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mark — a trace
  22. dip — to sink
  23. ground — crushed
  24. ground — the earth

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