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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: mug · race · file · toast · nail · calf · stock · net

  1. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. net — for catching
  3. stock — goods
  4. file — a tool
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. net — after costs
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. mug — a cup
  10. file — a document
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. mug — to rob
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. race — humankind
  15. race — a contest
  16. file — a line of people
  17. net — in sport
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. mug — a face
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. stock — shares
  24. toast — bread

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