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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. cue — a signal
  4. pit — in a race
  5. dip — to sink
  6. bank — for money
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. march — the month
  10. pit — a hole
  11. bank — of a river
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. date — the fruit
  14. bank — for money
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. march — music
  18. cue — a hint
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. march — the month
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. cue — for pool
  24. row — a line

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