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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: mug · hand · arm · rock · board · scale · fine · net

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. net — in sport
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. hand — in cards
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — a stone
  9. board — a committee
  10. net — after costs
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. fine — all right
  13. rock — music
  14. net — for catching
  15. scale — in music
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fine — high quality
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. mug — a cup
  20. board — to get on
  21. mug — a face
  22. hand — help
  23. mug — to rob
  24. hand — part of the body

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