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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: mug · chest · mark · dip · cabinet · rock · toast · race

  1. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. chest — of your body
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mark — a grade
  8. toast — bread
  9. mug — a cup
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. dip — to sink
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. chest — of your body
  14. rock — a stone
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. race — the arms race
  18. mug — a face
  19. mark — a trace
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. race — humankind
  22. rock — music
  23. race — a contest
  24. toast — the most admired

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