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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: net · rock · board · scale · mine · fan · pit · suit

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. rock — a stone
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — in cards
  5. suit — to fit
  6. board — to get on
  7. net — in sport
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. scale — size or range
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. mine — for digging
  13. board — a committee
  14. net — after costs
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. scale — in music
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. pit — a hole
  20. rock — music
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. pit — in a race
  23. net — for catching
  24. scale — for weighing

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