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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: foot · cue · dip · net · toast · ball · pit · current

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. net — after costs
  3. cue — for pool
  4. cue — a hint
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. pit — a hole
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. cue — a signal
  9. dip — to sink
  10. net — for catching
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. current — electric
  13. ball — a great time
  14. toast — bread
  15. foot — a measure
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. current — happening now
  20. pit — in a race
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. current — of water
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. ball — a dance

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