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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. object — an aim
  4. suit — to fit
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. net — after costs
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. net — in sport
  11. squash — to crush
  12. object — to protest
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. suit — in cards
  15. key — in music
  16. stand — to bear
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. squash — the sport
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. key — the most important part
  21. object — a thing
  22. key — for a lock
  23. suit — clothes
  24. arm — part of the body

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