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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. wake — a trail
  3. mug — a face
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. mug — to rob
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. mark — a trace
  10. rash — hasty
  11. current — happening now
  12. lie — to recline
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. rash — a series
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. squash — the sport
  19. mark — a grade
  20. current — electric
  21. squash — to crush
  22. current — of water
  23. mug — a cup
  24. racket — for tennis

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