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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: ruler · board · lash · toast · net · last · tube · mug

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. mug — a face
  3. net — after costs
  4. last — finally
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. tube — a container
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. board — to get on
  10. board — a committee
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. net — for catching
  13. net — in sport
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. last — to go on
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. mug — to rob
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. tube — the underground
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. last — final
  24. toast — bread

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