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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.

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: hand · present · mug · racket · dip · pass · rest · sharp

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. rest — a break
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. mug — a face
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. pass — a permit
  7. dip — to sink
  8. hand — in cards
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mug — to rob
  12. hand — help
  13. sharp — clever
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. present — a gift
  16. rest — what's left
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. present — the time now
  21. rest — what's left
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. present — there

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