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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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. mug — a cup
  5. land — to come down
  6. mug — to rob
  7. bound — tied together
  8. rule — government
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. land — ground
  11. bank — for money
  12. season — of the year
  13. rule — a law
  14. land — a country
  15. bound — certain
  16. bound — obliged
  17. mug — a face
  18. drill — the tool
  19. bank — of a river
  20. drill — a practice
  21. season — in sport
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. drill — army training
  24. bank — for money

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