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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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. tube — a container
  5. wake — a trail
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. march — the month
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. march — music
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. charge — in control
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. charge — electricity
  15. squash — the sport
  16. tube — the underground
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. squash — to crush
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. charge — a price
  24. march — the month

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