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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 120 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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mark — a grade
  3. can — to be able to
  4. mark — a trace
  5. rash — hasty
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. mug — to rob
  9. rash — a series
  10. net — in sport
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. mug — a face
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. net — for catching
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mug — a cup
  18. can — a tin
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. net — after costs
  21. rock — a stone
  22. rock — music
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. wake — a trail

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