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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: staff · mug · calf · rash · mark · racket · toast · season

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. mark — a grade
  4. staff — employees
  5. season — of the year
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. toast — bread
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mug — a cup
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. mug — to rob
  17. staff — a stick
  18. rash — a series
  19. mark — a trace
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. rash — hasty
  22. season — in sport
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. mug — a face

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