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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. deal — to handle
  3. degree — temperature
  4. dip — to sink
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. pop — to visit
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. track — to keep track
  10. track — a path
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. pop — soda
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. degree — an amount
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. degree — from a university
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. track — a song
  24. lash — to lash out

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