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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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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: lash · mark · bowl · foot · net · present · mouse · ground

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. foot — a measure
  6. mark — a grade
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. present — a gift
  11. ground — crushed
  12. net — after costs
  13. net — in sport
  14. mark — a trace
  15. ground — the earth
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. present — the time now
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. present — there
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. net — for catching
  24. bowl — a dish

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