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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. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. tube — a container
  3. mug — a face
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. mate — a friend
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. ball — a great time
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mug — a cup
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. branch — a division
  15. mate — a partner
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. ball — a dance
  19. tube — the underground
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. mate — to breed
  22. squash — to crush
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. mug — to rob

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