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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: suit · wave · net · nail · rush · bank · pitch · fine

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. pitch — completely
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. net — after costs
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. suit — to fit
  8. suit — clothes
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. net — for catching
  11. fine — high quality
  12. net — in sport
  13. rush — hurry
  14. suit — in cards
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. bank — for money
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. fine — all right
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bank — for money
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. nail — on a finger

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