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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: lash · net · game · mark · stand · content · press · mouse

  1. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. mark — a grade
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. content — the amount
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. net — after costs
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. press — newspapers
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. net — for catching
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. press — a publisher
  14. stand — to bear
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mark — a trace
  18. press — to push
  19. game — a match
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. net — in sport
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. content — happy

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