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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: field · net · calf · fine · object · nail · racket · lie

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. fine — high quality
  4. field — a subject
  5. net — in sport
  6. object — to protest
  7. fine — all right
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. field — farmland
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. object — a thing
  19. net — after costs
  20. net — for catching
  21. lie — to recline
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. object — an aim
  24. field — for sport

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