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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: stand · bore · racket · mug · rush · squash · fine · kid

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. squash — the sport
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. fine — all right
  6. kid — to tease
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. stand — to bear
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. rush — hurry
  11. fine — high quality
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. mug — to rob
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. mug — a cup
  17. kid — child
  18. squash — to crush
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bore — to drill
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. mug — a face
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bore — gave birth

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