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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: land · mark · toast · jam · mug · bank · spell · lash

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bank — for money
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. spell — letters
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. bank — of a river
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. mug — a face
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. spell — a short time
  13. toast — bread
  14. land — a country
  15. mug — a cup
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. spell — magic
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. land — to come down
  20. land — ground
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. bank — for money
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mug — to rob

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