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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. rock — music
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pass — a permit
  6. mate — a partner
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. cap — of ice
  11. cap — a lid
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. toast — bread
  15. rock — a stone
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. cap — a hat
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mate — a friend
  24. patient — a sick person

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