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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
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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: snap · pop · mine · dip · season · pass · toast · mouse

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. season — in sport
  4. dip — to sink
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. pop — soda
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. pop — to visit
  10. toast — bread
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. season — of the year
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. snap — to click
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. mine — for digging
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pop — music
  24. dip — a sauce

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