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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. mug — to rob
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. mug — a face
  7. toast — bread
  8. saw — the tool
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. court — for sport
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. court — of law
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. wax — to grow
  17. dip — to sink
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. court — of a king
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mug — a cup

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