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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.

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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. saw — the tool
  4. scale — size or range
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. staff — a stick
  7. saw — the tool
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. staff — employees
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. staff — employees
  12. suit — to fit
  13. can — a tin
  14. suit — clothes
  15. net — in sport
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. suit — in cards
  18. foot — a measure
  19. can — a tin
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. can — to be able to
  22. scale — in music
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. net — for catching

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