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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: mug · racket · hide · band · ruler · toast · rash · foot

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. mug — to rob
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. mug — a cup
  8. rash — a series
  9. foot — a measure
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. band — a ring
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. rash — hasty
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. toast — bread
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. band — a music group
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. mug — a face
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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