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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  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. can — a tin
  2. suit — clothes
  3. dip — to sink
  4. chip — for betting
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. cap — a lid
  7. cap — a hat
  8. lie — to recline
  9. cap — of ice
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. suit — in cards
  14. suit — to fit
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. can — to be able to
  17. can — a tin
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. chip — to eat
  20. ball — a great time
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. ball — a dance
  23. foot — a measure
  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