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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. tube — a container
  3. mark — a trace
  4. fine — all right
  5. net — for catching
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. fine — high quality
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. suit — to fit
  12. tube — the underground
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. suit — in cards
  15. net — in sport
  16. mark — a grade
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pop — soda
  20. lean — to bend
  21. pop — music
  22. suit — clothes
  23. pop — to visit
  24. lean — thin

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