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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bowl · mug · net · dip · lash · pit · jam · mouse

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. mug — a face
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. net — after costs
  7. pit — in a race
  8. dip — to sink
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. net — in sport
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. net — for catching
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. mug — to rob
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. pit — a hole
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. mug — a cup

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