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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: can · key · dip · saw · degree · lie · fine · mark

  1. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — from a university
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. degree — an amount
  8. mark — a grade
  9. can — to be able to
  10. fine — all right
  11. mark — a trace
  12. degree — temperature
  13. saw — the tool
  14. key — in music
  15. fine — high quality
  16. can — a tin
  17. key — for a lock
  18. lie — to recline
  19. saw — the tool
  20. key — the most important part
  21. can — a tin
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. dip — to sink

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