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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: pop · track · mate · mouse · dip · hide · squash · season

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. track — a song
  3. squash — to crush
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. track — a path
  6. mate — a partner
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pop — music
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. dip — to sink
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. track — to keep track
  15. squash — the sport
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. season — of the year
  19. season — in sport
  20. mate — to breed
  21. pop — soda
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. mate — a friend

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