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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 116 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: hand · fine · bowl · stand · dip · cap · mouse · ball

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. hand — in cards
  4. stand — to bear
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ball — a dance
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. cap — a lid
  10. dip — to sink
  11. fine — high quality
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. hand — help
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. cap — of ice
  21. fine — all right
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. cap — a hat

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