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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: fine · dip · mine · toast · chair · sharp · tube · lash

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. mine — for digging
  4. dip — to sink
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. toast — bread
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. tube — a container
  19. fine — all right
  20. chair — a leader
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. tube — the underground
  23. fine — high quality
  24. sharp — exactly

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