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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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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: spell · pound · foot · stick · dip · bay · mark · jam

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. spell — letters
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. spell — a short time
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. dip — to sink
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. foot — a measure
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. mark — a grade
  19. spell — magic
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. pound — a weight
  24. dip — to dunk

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