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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: mark · deal · mug · hand · dip · bore · lash · ground

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  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. dip — to sink
  2. mug — a cup
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. mark — a grade
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. bore — to tire
  7. mug — a face
  8. mug — to rob
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. ground — crushed
  12. ground — a position
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. mark — a trace
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. ground — the earth
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. hand — help
  20. hand — in cards
  21. deal — to handle
  22. bore — to drill
  23. lash — to lash out
  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