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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. net — for catching
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. cue — a signal
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. rush — hurry
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. net — in sport
  19. lie — to recline
  20. cue — a hint
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. cue — for pool
  23. net — after costs
  24. rush — to hurry

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