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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
468
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: spell · mug · mark · object · net · arm · bore · toast

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. object — a thing
  4. mug — a face
  5. mark — a grade
  6. net — in sport
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. object — to protest
  9. net — for catching
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. bore — to tire
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. spell — magic
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bore — to drill
  17. spell — a short time
  18. net — after costs
  19. toast — bread
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. object — an aim
  22. mug — a cup
  23. spell — letters
  24. arm — part of the body

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