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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. squash — the sport
  8. net — after costs
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. squash — to crush
  11. rest — a break
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. rest — what's left
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. snap — to click
  16. net — in sport
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. net — for catching
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. racket — a loud noise

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