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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mug · rock · suit · object · ball · net · scale · racket

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. rock — music
  4. ball — a great time
  5. object — an aim
  6. net — after costs
  7. scale — size or range
  8. object — a thing
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. suit — to fit
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. net — for catching
  15. scale — in music
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. ball — a dance
  18. suit — in cards
  19. object — to protest
  20. mug — to rob
  21. mug — a face
  22. rock — a stone
  23. mug — a cup
  24. net — in sport

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