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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: roll · mug · net · bound · pitch · rash · can · bowl

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. can — a tin
  3. mug — a cup
  4. can — a tin
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. roll — a cake
  8. rash — hasty
  9. mug — to rob
  10. pitch — completely
  11. net — for catching
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. roll — a list
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. rash — a series
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. net — in sport
  18. bound — certain
  19. bound — tied together
  20. mug — a face
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. bound — obliged
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. bowl — a football final

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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