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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
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: object · suit · net · land · foot · lash · bay · pitch

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. suit — in cards
  5. land — a country
  6. foot — a measure
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. land — ground
  10. net — after costs
  11. object — to protest
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. object — an aim
  15. land — to come down
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. suit — clothes
  19. pitch — completely
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. net — in sport
  23. object — a thing
  24. net — for catching

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