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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: rest · mug · net · roll · deal · mark · last · bay

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. mark — a trace
  3. deal — to handle
  4. rest — what's left
  5. roll — a cake
  6. net — in sport
  7. last — to go on
  8. roll — a list
  9. mug — a cup
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. net — for catching
  12. last — final
  13. rest — a break
  14. last — finally
  15. mark — a grade
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. mug — to rob
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. mug — a face
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. rest — what's left
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. net — after costs

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