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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. net — for catching
  3. net — in sport
  4. spell — a short time
  5. mug — a cup
  6. bank — of a river
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. mark — a grade
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. spell — letters
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mug — to rob
  14. spell — magic
  15. suit — in cards
  16. can — to be able to
  17. net — after costs
  18. bank — for money
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. bank — for money
  21. mug — a face
  22. suit — clothes
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — a trainer

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