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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. dip — to sink
  3. firm — decided
  4. last — final
  5. last — finally
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. rush — hurry
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. mug — a face
  10. row — a line
  11. row — to paddle
  12. toast — bread
  13. mug — to rob
  14. firm — a company
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. last — to go on
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. mug — a cup
  21. stock — goods
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. firm — steady
  24. stock — shares

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