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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.

Make a worksheet

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 an ace ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. fork — in a road
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. ball — a dance
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. dip — to sink
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. plane — a tool
  22. ball — a great time
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. fork — to eat with

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