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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: lie · firm · track · patient · key · foot · net · can

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. net — for catching
  3. foot — a measure
  4. can — to be able to
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. track — a song
  7. track — to keep track
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. track — a path
  10. net — in sport
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. can — a tin
  13. firm — steady
  14. key — the most important part
  15. lie — to recline
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. key — in music
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. net — after costs
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. can — a tin
  22. firm — a company
  23. firm — decided
  24. key — for a lock

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