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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  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. hide — animal skin
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. suit — clothes
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. suit — in cards
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. suit — to fit
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. mark — a grade
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. bark — to shout
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a trace
  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