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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: jam · ground · dip · lie · toast · bank · rash · sharp

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. dip — to sink
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bank — for money
  6. ground — crushed
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. sharp — clever
  9. lie — to recline
  10. bank — of a river
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. ground — the earth
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. bank — for money
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rash — hasty
  20. ground — a position
  21. rash — a series
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. toast — bread

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