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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: dip · band · mouse · track · arm · rock · mug · date

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. mug — to rob
  3. date — the fruit
  4. dip — to sink
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. track — a path
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. rock — a stone
  13. mug — a cup
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. rock — music
  18. band — a ring
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. mug — a face
  22. band — a music group
  23. track — a song
  24. track — to keep track

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