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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 116 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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. bass — the fish
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. perch — the fish
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. squash — the sport
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. dip — to sink
  17. bass — low music
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. squash — to crush

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