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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. suit — to fit
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. board — to get on
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. spring — of water
  8. suit — in cards
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ball — a dance
  16. spring — the season
  17. suit — clothes
  18. ball — a great time
  19. spring — a coil
  20. board — a committee
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. kick — in football
  24. racket — for tennis

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