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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: net · mark · ruler · suit · spell · pitch · staff · lie

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. mark — a trace
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. staff — employees
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. spell — magic
  9. net — for catching
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. suit — to fit
  12. spell — letters
  13. staff — a stick
  14. suit — clothes
  15. lie — to recline
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. staff — employees
  18. net — after costs
  19. spell — a short time
  20. mark — a grade
  21. suit — in cards
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. pitch — completely

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