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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: dip · can · pass · saw · firm · mug · mate · bark

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. can — a tin
  3. mug — to rob
  4. saw — the tool
  5. mate — to breed
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. firm — decided
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. mug — a cup
  10. firm — a company
  11. pass — a permit
  12. saw — the tool
  13. dip — to sink
  14. firm — steady
  15. can — a tin
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. bark — to shout
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. can — to be able to
  22. mate — a friend
  23. mug — a face
  24. bark — of a tree

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