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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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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: cap · firm · deal · mark · net · foot · pop · season

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. pop — soda
  3. net — for catching
  4. firm — a company
  5. season — in sport
  6. net — after costs
  7. pop — to visit
  8. firm — steady
  9. pop — music
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. cap — of ice
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. net — in sport
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. cap — a lid
  17. deal — to handle
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. cap — a hat
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. firm — decided
  22. foot — a measure
  23. mark — a grade
  24. season — of the year

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