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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: foot · leaves · net · bass · racket · face · safe · track

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. bass — low music
  3. foot — a measure
  4. net — for catching
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. net — in sport
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. track — a song
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. face — to confront
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. face — part of the head
  19. net — after costs
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. track — a path
  22. bass — the fish
  23. track — to keep track
  24. safe — out of danger

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