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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. mark — a grade
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. dip — to sink
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. mark — a trace
  10. lie — to recline
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. swing — music
  14. swing — to play on
  15. spell — letters
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. spell — a short time
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. spell — magic

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