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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: chip · mouse · racket · band · bulb · jam · nail · mark

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. bulb — for light
  6. chip — to eat
  7. band — a ring
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. mark — a trace
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. chip — for betting
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. band — a music group
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bulb — of a plant

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