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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: lash · snap · dip · bass · leaves · fine · content · ground

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. content — happy
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. ground — the earth
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. content — the amount
  12. ground — crushed
  13. fine — high quality
  14. snap — to click
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bass — the fish
  18. ground — a position
  19. fine — all right
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bass — low music

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