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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. date — the fruit
  3. foot — a measure
  4. squash — the sport
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bound — obliged
  8. squash — to crush
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — for money
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. bound — tied together
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. bound — certain
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. racket — a loud noise

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