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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. pop — soda
  3. bass — the fish
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. bass — low music
  6. shower — rain
  7. ground — a position
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. fine — high quality
  10. ground — the earth
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. pop — to visit
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. fine — all right
  17. ground — crushed
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. pop — music
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. shower — to wash
  24. fine — a penalty

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