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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.

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: wind · fork · leaves · mug · pitcher · mouse · band · racket

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  5. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. fork — in a road
  4. wind — moving air
  5. wind — to turn a key
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. band — a ring
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mug — a cup
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mug — a face
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. band — a music group
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. wind — moving air

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