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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 120 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: dip · arm · deal · rock · foot · saw · lie · mark

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. rock — music
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. lie — to recline
  6. dip — to sink
  7. rock — a stone
  8. mark — a trace
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. mark — a grade
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. foot — a measure
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. deal — to handle
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lie — an untruth

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