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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: mark · wave · stock · mug · lash · dip · foot · date

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  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. foot — the bottom
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. date — the fruit
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. stock — shares
  7. mug — a cup
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. stock — goods
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. dip — to sink
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mark — a grade
  17. foot — a measure
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. mug — to rob
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. date — on the calendar
  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