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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: pop · object · foot · hide · net · dip · hand · nail

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. net — in sport
  3. dip — to sink
  4. pop — to visit
  5. net — for catching
  6. object — to protest
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. net — after costs
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. pop — soda
  15. hand — in cards
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. hand — help
  18. object — a thing
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. foot — a measure
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. pop — music

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