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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. tube — a container
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. mate — a partner
  7. sharp — clever
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. rock — music
  11. dip — to sink
  12. stand — to bear
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. mate — to breed
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. tube — the underground
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. rock — a stone
  24. mate — a friend

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