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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: lie · perch · cabinet · arm · tube · foot · net · object

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. tube — a container
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. perch — the fish
  6. net — for catching
  7. lie — to recline
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. net — after costs
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. net — in sport
  19. object — to protest
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. foot — a measure
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. object — a thing
  24. tube — the underground

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