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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wake · racket · can · saw · suit · cap · court · ruler

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. wake — a trail
  3. cap — a lid
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. saw — the tool
  6. court — of a king
  7. can — a tin
  8. court — for sport
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. suit — in cards
  11. cap — a hat
  12. cap — of ice
  13. can — a tin
  14. court — of law
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. can — to be able to
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. suit — to fit
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. saw — the tool
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. suit — clothes
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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