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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 120 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
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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: squash · degree · mouse · rash · rest · net · pitcher · can

  1. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. can — a tin
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. net — in sport
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. rash — a series
  9. rest — what's left
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. degree — from a university
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. degree — temperature
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. squash — to crush
  17. can — a tin
  18. squash — the sport
  19. net — for catching
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rash — hasty
  22. degree — an amount
  23. net — after costs
  24. can — to be able to

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