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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 dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. rock — a stone
  4. ground — crushed
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. rock — music
  11. ground — a position
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. bear — the animal
  18. ground — the earth
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. bark — to shout
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. bear — the animal
  24. fan — a supporter

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