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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 116 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: bowl · prune · trunk · cabinet · racket · mouse · saw · rock

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. prune — to trim
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. rock — music
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. saw — the tool
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. saw — the tool
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. prune — to trim
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. rock — a stone

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