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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 120 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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. mark — a trace
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. mark — a grade
  5. track — a song
  6. deal — to handle
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. track — to keep track
  9. dip — to sink
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. track — a path
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. temple — side of the head

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