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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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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 · content · mate · kid · rock · calf · mug · bound

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. kid — child
  3. mate — to breed
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mug — a cup
  7. content — the amount
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mate — a friend
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. mate — a partner
  18. rock — music
  19. content — happy
  20. bound — certain
  21. kid — to tease
  22. bound — tied together
  23. mug — a face
  24. calf — a young animal

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