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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
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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: bowl · racket · mark · stick · game · mug · branch · firm

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  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. firm — decided
  2. mark — a grade
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. game — wild animals
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. branch — a division
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. game — a match
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mug — a face
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. firm — steady
  15. mug — a cup
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. firm — a company
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. mug — to rob
  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