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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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. bound — tied together
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. bound — certain
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. bound — obliged
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. dip — to sink
  14. lie — to recline
  15. saw — the tool
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. band — a ring
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. band — a music group
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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