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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

Word bank: net · jam · fine · toast · pitch · mark · band · pop

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. net — after costs
  4. net — for catching
  5. pop — music
  6. pop — soda
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. fine — all right
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. band — a music group
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. fine — high quality
  18. pitch — completely
  19. toast — bread
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. pop — to visit
  22. net — in sport
  23. mark — a trace
  24. band — a ring

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