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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.

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: ball · mark · net · lash · stand · perch · content · plane

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. mark — a grade
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. net — in sport
  6. mark — a trace
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. net — after costs
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. content — happy
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. plane — a tool
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. ball — a dance
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. stand — to bear
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. net — for catching
  24. perch — the fish

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