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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: net · stick · track · perch · toast · cabinet · nail · bass

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. net — after costs
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. toast — bread
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. net — in sport
  10. track — a path
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. perch — the fish
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. track — a song
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bass — the fish
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. net — for catching
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bass — low 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