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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mug · season · cue · arm · wave · scale · root · dip

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. scale — size or range
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. season — of the year
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. cue — a signal
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. cue — for pool
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. scale — in music
  13. cue — a hint
  14. season — in sport
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. dip — to sink
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. root — of a plant
  19. root — the cause
  20. mug — a cup
  21. root — of a word
  22. mug — a face
  23. mug — to rob
  24. scale — for weighing

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