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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: deal · bowl · cabinet · scale · dip · racket · nail · mug

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. scale — in music
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mug — a cup
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. dip — to sink
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. mug — a face
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. deal — to handle
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. scale — size or range
  24. deal — an agreement

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