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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rule · ground · bank · lash · sharp · net · drill · toast

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. ground — a position
  4. drill — the tool
  5. net — after costs
  6. sharp — clever
  7. bank — for money
  8. net — in sport
  9. rule — government
  10. drill — a practice
  11. bank — for money
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. ground — the earth
  18. bank — of a river
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. toast — bread
  22. drill — army training
  23. ground — crushed
  24. rule — a law

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