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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. spell — magic
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. dip — to sink
  5. fine — high quality
  6. foot — a measure
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. press — to push
  10. press — newspapers
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. plane — a tool
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. fine — all right
  18. spell — letters
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. deal — to handle
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. press — a publisher
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. spell — a short 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