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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: mark · racket · rash · mug · net · toast · file · shower

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mug — to rob
  4. net — in sport
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. file — a tool
  7. file — a line of people
  8. rash — a series
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. file — a document
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. net — for catching
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. shower — to wash
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. net — after costs
  18. mark — a grade
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. toast — bread
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. mug — a face
  23. mark — a trace
  24. rash — hasty

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