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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. toast — bread
  4. present — a gift
  5. present — the time now
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. spell — magic
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. track — to keep track
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. track — a path
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. present — there
  17. spell — a short time
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. spell — letters
  20. wax — to grow
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. dip — to sink
  24. toast — the most admired

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