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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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. lean — thin
  3. root — of a word
  4. bank — of a river
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. mark — a grade
  7. root — of a plant
  8. mug — to rob
  9. bank — for money
  10. face — part of the head
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. track — a song
  13. root — the cause
  14. lean — to bend
  15. face — to point toward
  16. mark — a trace
  17. bank — for money
  18. mug — a face
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. track — to keep track
  21. dip — to sink
  22. face — to confront
  23. mug — a cup
  24. track — a path

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