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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 · content · date · track · rock · arm · club · press

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. rock — a stone
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. track — a path
  6. press — to push
  7. date — the fruit
  8. rock — music
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. press — a publisher
  13. net — for catching
  14. club — a group
  15. club — for golf
  16. content — the amount
  17. net — after costs
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. track — to keep track
  20. track — a song
  21. content — happy
  22. club — for dancing
  23. press — newspapers
  24. arm — a part of something

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