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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 124 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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. wound — an injury
  5. net — after costs
  6. firm — steady
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. net — in sport
  9. firm — a company
  10. firm — decided
  11. mug — to rob
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. cue — for pool
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. cue — a signal
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. mug — a cup
  18. cue — a hint
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. net — for catching
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. toast — bread
  23. wound — an injury
  24. mug — a face

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