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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: fork · lash · track · racket · plane · net · safe · rash

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. track — a path
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. net — after costs
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. net — for catching
  10. track — a song
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. rash — a series
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. fork — in a road
  17. rash — hasty
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. track — to keep track
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. plane — a tool
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. safe — out of danger

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