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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. staff — employees
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. branch — a division
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. degree — from a university
  13. bass — low music
  14. staff — a stick
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. degree — temperature
  17. mark — a trace
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. degree — an amount
  21. staff — employees
  22. bass — the fish
  23. mark — a grade
  24. branch — of a bank

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