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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. mark — a grade
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. fine — high quality
  7. can — to be able to
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. fine — all right
  10. rest — a break
  11. bat — the animal
  12. net — for catching
  13. rest — what's left
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. toast — bread
  16. mark — a trace
  17. net — after costs
  18. rest — what's left
  19. can — a tin
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. can — a tin

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