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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: net · kick · press · safe · deal · board · track · drill

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. net — after costs
  3. deal — to handle
  4. drill — the tool
  5. press — a publisher
  6. net — in sport
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. board — a committee
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. drill — a practice
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. press — newspapers
  14. press — to push
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. track — a song
  17. net — for catching
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. track — a path
  20. track — to keep track
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. board — to get on
  23. kick — in football
  24. safe — out of danger

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