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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. prune — to trim
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. net — after costs
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. fine — all right
  13. net — for catching
  14. rock — music
  15. prune — to trim
  16. cap — a lid
  17. bear — the animal
  18. cap — a hat
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. cap — of ice
  21. bear — the animal
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. rock — a stone

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