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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
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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: net · wound · wave · mark · bear · foot · cue · fine

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. net — for catching
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — a grade
  9. net — after costs
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. wound — an injury
  12. fine — high quality
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. cue — a hint
  16. bear — the animal
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. foot — a measure
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. fine — all right
  21. cue — for pool
  22. net — in sport
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. bear — the animal

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