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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.

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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: pit · fan · nail · can · net · lash · mug · toast

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. toast — bread
  3. can — a tin
  4. pit — in a race
  5. net — for catching
  6. can — a tin
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. pit — a hole
  9. mug — to rob
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mug — a cup
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mug — a face
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. net — in 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