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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
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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: can · hide · firm · net · court · nail · scale · foot

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — to be able to
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. court — of a king
  8. net — for catching
  9. foot — a measure
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. scale — size or range
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. court — for sport
  14. scale — in music
  15. firm — a company
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. net — after costs
  20. net — in sport
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. can — a tin
  23. court — of law
  24. firm — steady

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