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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bark · ball · object · mark · hide · cabinet · toast · dip

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. ball — a dance
  3. toast — bread
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. object — a thing
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. mark — a trace
  14. mark — a grade
  15. object — to protest
  16. ball — a great time
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. bark — to shout
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. object — an aim
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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