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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: toast · bear · mug · net · bank · dip · pit · rash

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. net — in sport
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. mug — a cup
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. rash — hasty
  8. rash — a series
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. dip — to sink
  11. pit — in a race
  12. pit — a hole
  13. net — for catching
  14. bear — the animal
  15. mug — to rob
  16. toast — bread
  17. bank — for money
  18. net — after costs
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bank — of a river
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. mug — a face
  24. bank — for money

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