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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.

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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. roll — a cake
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — to be able to
  8. roll — a list
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. chip — for betting
  12. bore — to drill
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bore — to tire
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. bank — for money
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. bank — of a river
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. can — a tin
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. bank — for money
  24. chip — to eat

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