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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: net · mark · bowl · stick · ball · mug · spell · pass

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. pass — a permit
  7. mug — to rob
  8. net — for catching
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. mark — a grade
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. mug — a cup
  15. ball — a great time
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. ball — a dance
  19. net — in sport
  20. net — after costs
  21. spell — magic
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. mug — a face
  24. spell — a short time

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