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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. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. pass — a permit
  5. tube — a container
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. staff — employees
  8. staff — employees
  9. staff — a stick
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bear — the animal
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. lie — to recline
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. tube — the underground
  22. bear — the animal
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. lie — an untruth

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