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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: bound · mark · net · saw · lash · suit · toast · racket

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bound — obliged
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. saw — the tool
  7. net — for catching
  8. net — in sport
  9. suit — in cards
  10. suit — to fit
  11. toast — bread
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. bound — tied together
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. suit — clothes
  18. saw — the tool
  19. net — after costs
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. bound — certain
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. lash — an eyelash

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