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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
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: racket · arm · fine · board · net · foot · bear · plane

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. net — after costs
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. foot — a measure
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. bear — the animal
  10. board — to get on
  11. net — for catching
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. board — a committee
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. fine — high quality
  19. bear — the animal
  20. plane — a tool
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. net — in sport
  24. fine — all right

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