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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. scale — size or range
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. net — for catching
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. face — to point toward
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. face — to confront
  11. key — the most important part
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fine — all right
  14. key — for a lock
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. fine — high quality
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. face — part of the head
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. net — in sport
  23. key — in music
  24. scale — in 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