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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. dip — to sink
  3. bass — low music
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bass — the fish
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. stand — to bear
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. hand — help
  10. date — the fruit
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. hand — in cards
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. dip — to dunk

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