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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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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 · scale · swing · ball · suit · mark · drill · rash

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. swing — in golf
  3. rash — a series
  4. suit — clothes
  5. dip — to sink
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. drill — a practice
  8. rash — hasty
  9. scale — size or range
  10. mark — a trace
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. swing — to play on
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. scale — in music
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. ball — a dance
  18. suit — to fit
  19. ball — a great time
  20. drill — the tool
  21. mark — a grade
  22. suit — in cards
  23. swing — music
  24. drill — army training

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