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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.

Make a worksheet

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: racket · ground · roll · mouse · foot · safe · pitcher · pass

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. ground — a position
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. roll — a list
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. foot — a measure
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. roll — a cake
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. ground — crushed
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. ground — the earth
  24. pass — a permit

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