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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 116 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 muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. net — after costs
  6. dip — to sink
  7. net — in sport
  8. fine — high quality
  9. can — a tin
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bark — to shout
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. track — a song
  16. can — a tin
  17. net — for catching
  18. track — to keep track
  19. fine — all right
  20. cue — for pool
  21. cue — a hint
  22. cue — a signal
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. dip — a sauce

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