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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. mug — a face
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. staff — employees
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. mug — to rob
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. mug — a cup
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. staff — employees
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. chest — a box
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. chest — of your body
  22. chest — of your body
  23. staff — a stick
  24. foot — a measure

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