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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. net — for catching
  3. hand — help
  4. root — the cause
  5. current — of water
  6. foot — a measure
  7. net — after costs
  8. hand — in cards
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. wake — a trail
  12. net — in sport
  13. suit — in cards
  14. suit — to fit
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. current — happening now
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. root — of a plant
  21. suit — clothes
  22. current — electric
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. root — of a word

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