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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 116 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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. dip — to sink
  3. content — the amount
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. pit — a hole
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a grade
  8. pop — music
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. mark — a trace
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pop — soda
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. plane — a tool
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. content — happy
  24. pit — in a race

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