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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: net · bay · pitcher · bear · dip · squash · roll · mark

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. dip — to sink
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. mark — a grade
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. roll — a list
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. bear — the animal
  15. mark — a trace
  16. squash — to crush
  17. net — after costs
  18. net — in sport
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. roll — a cake
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. squash — the sport

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