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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: squash · mark · foot · leaves · deal · racket · bass · tube

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. squash — the sport
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. deal — to handle
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. bass — the fish
  10. foot — a measure
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. tube — a container
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. tube — the underground
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. bass — low music
  22. squash — to crush
  23. mark — a grade
  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