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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. lie — to recline
  5. cue — for pool
  6. game — wild animals
  7. row — a line
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. cue — a hint
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. row — to paddle
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. game — a match
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mug — a cup
  17. cue — a signal
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. pitch — completely
  21. mug — a face
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. mug — to rob
  24. lie — an untruth

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