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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. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. squash — to crush
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. roll — a cake
  9. wake — a trail
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. squash — the sport
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. roll — a list
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. racket — for tennis

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