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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: scale · foot · net · wind · nail · lash · mate · drill

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. wind — moving air
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. net — for catching
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. net — after costs
  8. drill — a practice
  9. mate — to breed
  10. foot — a measure
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. wind — moving air
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. mate — a friend
  15. scale — in music
  16. mate — a partner
  17. scale — size or range
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. net — in sport
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. drill — army training
  24. drill — the tool

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