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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 asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. spell — magic
  3. spell — a short time
  4. object — an aim
  5. spell — letters
  6. pop — soda
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. bulb — for light
  10. net — in sport
  11. pop — to visit
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. net — for catching
  15. bulb — for light
  16. pass — a permit
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. pop — music
  19. object — a thing
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. net — after costs
  24. object — to protest

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