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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. club — a group
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. net — in sport
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. season — of the year
  10. season — in sport
  11. toast — bread
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. net — after costs
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. staff — employees
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. staff — employees
  19. net — for catching
  20. staff — a stick
  21. club — for golf
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. club — for dancing

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