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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: dip · suit · straw · temple · fine · swing · last · rash

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. fine — high quality
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. suit — to fit
  5. rash — hasty
  6. suit — in cards
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. rash — a series
  10. dip — to sink
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. last — finally
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. swing — in golf
  15. swing — music
  16. last — to go on
  17. fine — all right
  18. last — final
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. swing — to play on
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. suit — clothes
  24. straw — a straw man

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