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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: mug · wound · staff · wake · mark · suit · squash · fine

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mug — to rob
  3. suit — clothes
  4. fine — all right
  5. wound — an injury
  6. mug — a cup
  7. fine — high quality
  8. wake — a trail
  9. mug — a face
  10. squash — to crush
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. squash — the sport
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. suit — in cards
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mark — a grade
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. suit — to fit
  21. staff — a stick
  22. wound — an injury
  23. staff — employees
  24. staff — employees

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