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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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. fine — high quality
  3. stock — shares
  4. ball — a great time
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. mate — to breed
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. fine — all right
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mate — a partner
  19. stock — goods
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. mate — a friend
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. dip — to sink
  24. stock — a soup base

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