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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. fork — in a road
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. net — after costs
  7. drill — the tool
  8. mate — a friend
  9. drill — army training
  10. mate — to breed
  11. net — in sport
  12. dip — to sink
  13. mug — to rob
  14. net — for catching
  15. toast — bread
  16. fall — to drop
  17. drill — a practice
  18. fall — the season
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. fall — to drop
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. mug — a face
  24. mate — a partner

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