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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. snap — to click
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. prune — to trim
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. bore — to tire
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. branch — a division
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. prune — to trim
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. bore — to drill

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