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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: foot · key · racket · object · ground · nail · prune · hide

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. object — a thing
  4. ground — a position
  5. prune — to trim
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. key — in music
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. ground — the earth
  11. object — to protest
  12. ground — crushed
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. foot — a measure
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. key — the most important part
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. key — for a lock
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. prune — to trim
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. object — an aim
  24. racket — for tennis

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