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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: content · mark · foot · fine · can · fan · net · snap

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. content — the amount
  3. can — to be able to
  4. mark — a trace
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. content — happy
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. snap — to click
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. net — for catching
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — a tin
  16. net — after costs
  17. foot — a measure
  18. net — in sport
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. fine — high quality
  21. mark — a grade
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fine — all right

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