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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: fine · foot · ball · deal · leaves · dip · mouse · lash

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. fine — high quality
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. foot — a measure
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. ball — a dance
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. ball — a great time
  22. fine — all right
  23. deal — to handle
  24. leaves — of a tree

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