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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. cap — a lid
  3. bound — obliged
  4. cap — of ice
  5. bound — tied together
  6. mug — to rob
  7. dip — to sink
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. current — of water
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. saw — the tool
  13. fine — all right
  14. cap — a hat
  15. bound — certain
  16. saw — the tool
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. fine — high quality
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. mug — a face
  21. current — electric
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. current — happening now
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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