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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. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. capital — money
  4. capital — a big letter
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. firm — decided
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mark — a trace
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. capital — a city
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. firm — a company
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. toast — bread
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. mark — a grade
  24. firm — steady

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