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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. dip — to sink
  3. fine — high quality
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bank — of a river
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. bear — the animal
  9. fine — all right
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a dance
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. sharp — clever
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. bank — for money
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. bank — for money
  24. trunk — of a tree

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