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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. toast — bread
  6. mug — to rob
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. squash — the sport
  11. roll — a list
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. tube — the underground
  16. roll — a cake
  17. squash — to crush
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. tube — a container
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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