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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: track · chair · deal · stick · face · foot · bore · dip

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. track — a path
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. face — part of the head
  9. deal — to handle
  10. face — to point toward
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. track — a song
  14. bore — to tire
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. chair — a leader
  17. foot — a measure
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. track — to keep track
  21. face — to confront
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. bore — to drill
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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