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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: fine · mug · dip · staff · ruler · ground · shower · mark

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ground — a position
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. mug — a cup
  9. fine — high quality
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. ground — crushed
  13. staff — a stick
  14. shower — to wash
  15. staff — employees
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. shower — rain
  18. staff — employees
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. fine — all right
  21. dip — to sink
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mug — a face

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