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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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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: rash · net · safe · nail · arm · ground · roll · toast

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rash — hasty
  8. rash — a series
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. ground — a position
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. ground — crushed
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. toast — bread
  18. roll — a list
  19. net — in sport
  20. net — after costs
  21. roll — a cake
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. net — for catching

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