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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: pass · saw · dip · sharp · trunk · key · mouse · cap

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. key — the most important part
  4. cap — of ice
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. key — for a lock
  8. saw — the tool
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. cap — a hat
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. key — in music
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. sharp — clever
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. pass — a permit
  18. cap — a lid
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. saw — the tool

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