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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. charge — a price
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. charge — in control
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mug — a face
  13. stock — goods
  14. hand — help
  15. hand — in cards
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bear — the animal
  20. stock — shares
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. temple — a place of worship

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