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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: snap · board · fine · net · hide · calf · pop · leaves

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. pop — music
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. board — to get on
  9. snap — to click
  10. fine — all right
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. pop — to visit
  14. net — in sport
  15. pop — soda
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. fine — high quality
  20. board — a committee
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. net — for catching
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. calf — a young 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