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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. mug — a cup
  3. net — for catching
  4. firm — decided
  5. mug — to rob
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. rush — hurry
  10. staff — employees
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. wake — a trail
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. firm — steady
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. mug — a face
  20. staff — a stick
  21. net — in sport
  22. staff — employees
  23. firm — a company
  24. racket — a loud noise

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