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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.

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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. net — in sport
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mark — a grade
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. net — for catching
  9. hand — help
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. hand — in cards
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. dip — to sink
  20. net — after costs
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. ball — a dance
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. ball — a great time

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