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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bulb — for light
  6. dip — to sink
  7. content — happy
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. mark — a trace
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. bulb — for light
  13. face — to point toward
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. content — the amount
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. face — to confront
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a grade
  23. face — part of the head
  24. sharp — clever

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