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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. wake — a trail
  4. net — after costs
  5. net — for catching
  6. march — music
  7. mug — a face
  8. march — the month
  9. march — the month
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. mark — a trace
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mug — to rob
  16. suit — in cards
  17. mug — a cup
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. mark — a grade
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. suit — clothes
  23. net — in sport
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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