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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: rock · can · track · net · lie · arm · kick · key

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. can — a tin
  3. net — after costs
  4. lie — to recline
  5. key — the most important part
  6. net — in sport
  7. kick — in football
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — music
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. track — to keep track
  14. net — for catching
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. track — a path
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. can — to be able to
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. key — in music
  21. can — a tin
  22. key — for a lock
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. rock — to move gently

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