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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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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: cue · leaves · club · rock · racket · cabinet · bank · net

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. club — for golf
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. rock — music
  5. bank — of a river
  6. club — for dancing
  7. bank — for money
  8. cue — a signal
  9. net — for catching
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cue — for pool
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. net — in sport
  15. club — a group
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rock — a stone
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bank — for money
  23. net — after costs
  24. cue — a hint

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