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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: racket · track · roll · chip · bulb · mug · rash · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. mug — a cup
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. mug — to rob
  6. foot — a measure
  7. bulb — for light
  8. chip — to eat
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. track — a path
  12. track — to keep track
  13. rash — a series
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. roll — a cake
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. roll — a list
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. chip — for betting
  21. mug — a face
  22. bulb — for light
  23. track — a song
  24. rash — hasty

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