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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 120 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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. dip — to sink
  4. object — to protest
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. ground — a position
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. cue — a hint
  9. cue — for pool
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. mate — to breed
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. object — an aim
  16. cue — a signal
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. mate — a partner
  19. sharp — clever
  20. ground — crushed
  21. object — a thing
  22. mate — a friend
  23. rush — hurry
  24. wave — of the sea

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