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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. wound — an injury
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. foot — a measure
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — music
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. wound — an injury
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. branch — a division
  20. rock — a stone
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. foot — the bottom

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