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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. foot — a measure
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. mate — a partner
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. dip — to sink
  9. present — there
  10. track — a song
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. mate — a friend
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. track — to keep track
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. fork — in a road
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. pass — a permit
  22. track — a path
  23. mate — to breed
  24. present — a gift

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