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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. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. mate — a partner
  3. mate — a friend
  4. dip — to sink
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. mate — to breed
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. coach — a trainer

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