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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 116 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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. net — for catching
  3. key — for a lock
  4. key — in music
  5. rock — a stone
  6. land — to come down
  7. ball — a dance
  8. craft — a skill
  9. land — ground
  10. land — a country
  11. ball — a great time
  12. mark — a trace
  13. craft — boats
  14. net — in sport
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. net — after costs
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. key — the most important part
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. rock — music
  24. mark — a grade

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