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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. staff — employees
  5. track — to keep track
  6. pitch — completely
  7. track — a path
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. can — a tin
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. land — to come down
  17. staff — employees
  18. can — a tin
  19. land — a country
  20. staff — a stick
  21. wound — an injury
  22. land — ground
  23. track — a song
  24. wound — an injury

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