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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 · bay · net · charge · hide · mug · leaves · ball

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  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. ball — a round shape
  2. net — for catching
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. ball — a dance
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. mug — a cup
  8. ball — a great time
  9. net — in sport
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. charge — in control
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. net — after costs
  17. charge — electricity
  18. charge — a price
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mark — a trace
  21. mark — a grade
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. leaves — to go away
  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