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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: sharp · net · lie · face · pop · nail · stock · toast

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. net — after costs
  4. net — for catching
  5. face — to point toward
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. pop — soda
  8. stock — goods
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. net — in sport
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. pop — music
  14. face — part of the head
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — to recline
  17. pop — to visit
  18. sharp — clever
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. face — to confront
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. toast — bread
  24. stock — shares

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