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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.

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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: wake · dip · date · mark · scale · pitch · can · rush

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. date — the fruit
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. mark — a grade
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. scale — size or range
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. dip — to sink
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. pitch — completely
  15. can — a tin
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. can — a tin
  18. rush — hurry
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. scale — in music
  21. mark — a trace
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. can — to be able to

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