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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. sharp — clever
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. scale — size or range
  5. club — for dancing
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. fine — high quality
  8. fine — all right
  9. club — a group
  10. scale — in music
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. club — for golf
  15. toast — bread
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. mark — a grade
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — hurry

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