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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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. staff — a stick
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. scale — size or range
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. scale — in music
  7. can — a tin
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. can — a tin
  10. present — a gift
  11. present — there
  12. staff — employees
  13. pitch — completely
  14. present — the time now
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. can — to be able to
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. staff — employees
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. dip — a sauce

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