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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 120 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: lean · nail · mouse · dip · mark · net · pop · cabinet

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. mark — a trace
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. mark — a grade
  5. dip — to sink
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. net — in sport
  8. net — after costs
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. pop — soda
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. pop — to visit
  17. pop — music
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. lean — thin
  22. lean — to bend
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mouse — the animal

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