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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. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. mug — a face
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. mug — to rob
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. date — the fruit
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. fork — in a road
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. mug — a cup
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. perch — the fish
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. lie — to recline
  24. bowl — to roll

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