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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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. chest — a box
  3. dip — to sink
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. roll — a list
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. roll — a cake
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. fine — all right
  12. fine — high quality
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. fork — in a road
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. chest — of your body
  17. charge — in control
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. chest — of your body
  20. charge — a price
  21. charge — electricity
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. dip — a sauce

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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