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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.

Make a worksheet

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: foot · racket · toast · scale · bay · net · hand · can

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. net — in sport
  4. can — a tin
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. scale — in music
  7. toast — bread
  8. scale — size or range
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. can — a tin
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. can — to be able to
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. net — for catching
  17. hand — help
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. hand — in cards
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. foot — a measure
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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