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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. mug — a cup
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. cell — in biology
  6. stock — shares
  7. mug — a face
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. mug — to rob
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. stock — goods
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. cell — a phone
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. stock — a soup base

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