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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 120 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: lash · foot · arm · kick · present · bass · mate · net

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. foot — a measure
  3. net — in sport
  4. net — for catching
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. bass — low music
  10. net — after costs
  11. bass — the fish
  12. present — there
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. mate — a friend
  16. present — a gift
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. mate — a partner
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. mate — to breed
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. kick — in football
  24. kick — a thrill

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