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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: mouse · rush · court · bowl · lash · bay · toast · mark

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. court — of a king
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. court — of law
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. court — for sport
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. toast — bread
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. rush — hurry
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mark — a trace
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. bowl — to roll

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