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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: mark · staff · cap · racket · bark · can · roll · squash

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. mark — a grade
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. squash — the sport
  5. cap — a lid
  6. squash — to crush
  7. staff — a stick
  8. mark — a trace
  9. roll — a cake
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. bark — to shout
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. staff — employees
  16. cap — of ice
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. roll — a list
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — to be able to
  24. cap — a hat

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