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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. mark — a grade
  4. chip — to eat
  5. saw — the tool
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. mark — a trace
  10. chip — for betting
  11. present — a gift
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. present — there
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. foot — a measure
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. present — the time now
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. dip — to sink

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