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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 haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bear — the animal
  4. mate — to breed
  5. bear — the animal
  6. rock — a stone
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. mate — a friend
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. degree — an amount
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. rock — music
  18. degree — from a university
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. degree — temperature
  24. mate — a partner

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