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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 ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. mark — a trace
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. dip — to sink
  8. degree — temperature
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. degree — from a university
  11. row — a line
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. degree — an amount
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. row — to paddle
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a grade
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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