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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 116 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: object · perch · nail · mug · hand · net · mouse · sharp

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. mug — to rob
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. sharp — clever
  7. mug — a face
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. hand — in cards
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. net — for catching
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. object — an aim
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mug — a cup
  18. net — in sport
  19. net — after costs
  20. perch — the fish
  21. hand — help
  22. object — a thing
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. object — to protest

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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