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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. toast — bread
  6. bore — to drill
  7. rush — hurry
  8. content — the amount
  9. club — for golf
  10. content — happy
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. club — a group
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. club — for dancing
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. dip — to sink
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bore — to tire
  21. mug — to rob
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. mug — a face
  24. vault — a safe

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