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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
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: nail · file · pit · suit · net · bound · bowl · racket

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. bound — obliged
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. net — after costs
  6. bound — certain
  7. suit — in cards
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. pit — a hole
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. file — a line of people
  13. file — a document
  14. bound — tied together
  15. suit — to fit
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. file — a tool
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. pit — in a race
  21. net — for catching
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. suit — clothes

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