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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. face — to point toward
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. march — the month
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. cue — a hint
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. face — part of the head
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. date — the fruit
  15. march — the month
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. cue — for pool
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. perch — the fish
  21. face — to confront
  22. cue — a signal
  23. march — music
  24. dip — to dunk

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