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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. track — a song
  3. can — to be able to
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. present — there
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. present — a gift
  11. present — the time now
  12. net — after costs
  13. pit — in a race
  14. mark — a grade
  15. track — a path
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. pit — a hole
  18. mark — a trace
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. track — to keep track
  23. net — in sport
  24. net — for catching

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