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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 116 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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. suit — in cards
  3. rock — a stone
  4. band — a music group
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. cap — a lid
  7. rock — music
  8. suit — clothes
  9. cap — of ice
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bound — certain
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. saw — the tool
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. prune — to trim
  18. band — a ring
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. bound — obliged
  21. suit — to fit
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bound — tied together
  24. cap — a hat

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