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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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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: pound · roll · safe · lean · racket · mouse · pitcher · pop

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pop — music
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. roll — a list
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. lean — to bend
  18. pound — a weight
  19. lean — thin
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. roll — a cake
  24. pop — soda

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