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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 · bass · mug · chip · rest · spell · fine · stand

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. mark — a trace
  4. fine — all right
  5. spell — letters
  6. rest — what's left
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. bass — the fish
  9. mark — a grade
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. rest — what's left
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. stand — to bear
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. fine — high quality
  16. rest — a break
  17. chip — to eat
  18. chip — for betting
  19. mug — a face
  20. spell — a short time
  21. spell — magic
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. bass — low music

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