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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: race · ball · dip · lean · jam · fine · saw · can

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. race — humankind
  3. race — the arms race
  4. lean — thin
  5. race — a contest
  6. saw — the tool
  7. ball — a dance
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. can — a tin
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. lean — to bend
  13. can — a tin
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. saw — the tool
  17. fine — high quality
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. fine — all right
  20. ball — a great time
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. can — to be able to
  24. jam — a tight spot

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