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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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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. mug — a cup
  3. spell — letters
  4. net — after costs
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rock — a stone
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. mark — a trace
  11. net — in sport
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. spell — a short time
  15. kick — in football
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. rock — music
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. spell — magic
  20. net — for catching
  21. toast — bread
  22. mug — a face
  23. mark — a grade
  24. kick — with a leg

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