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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.

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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. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a hint
  9. plane — a tool
  10. spell — a short time
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. spell — letters
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. pit — in a race
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. cue — a signal
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. spell — magic
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. pit — a hole
  24. bowl — a dish

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