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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.

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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 haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. wound — an injury
  3. firm — steady
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. mate — a friend
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. mate — a partner
  11. ball — a dance
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ball — a great time
  14. wake — a trail
  15. firm — a company
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. wound — an injury
  19. hand — help
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. mate — to breed
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. firm — decided
  24. hand — in cards

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