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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: ground · net · mug · deal · rash · suit · ball · bark

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. bark — to shout
  4. net — after costs
  5. mug — a cup
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ground — crushed
  9. suit — in cards
  10. net — for catching
  11. deal — to handle
  12. net — in sport
  13. ground — the earth
  14. mug — to rob
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. suit — to fit
  18. rash — hasty
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. ball — a great time
  21. mug — a face
  22. rash — a series
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. ground — a position

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