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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 ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rest — a break
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. dip — to sink
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. rest — what's left
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. rule — a law
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rule — government
  17. lean — to bend
  18. mark — a grade
  19. lean — thin
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a trace
  24. rest — what's left

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