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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: deal · net · can · mark · game · content · firm · fine

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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. content — the amount
  4. can — to be able to
  5. firm — decided
  6. firm — steady
  7. fine — high quality
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. net — after costs
  11. net — in sport
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. deal — to handle
  14. net — for catching
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. game — wild animals
  17. fine — all right
  18. firm — a company
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — a tin
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. game — a match
  23. content — happy
  24. deal — an agreement

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