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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 120 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. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. net — for catching
  5. net — after costs
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. track — a song
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. track — to keep track
  14. spell — letters
  15. spell — a short time
  16. firm — a company
  17. track — a path
  18. net — in sport
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. spell — magic
  21. firm — steady
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. firm — decided

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