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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 120 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: nail · mouse · game · bark · racket · lash · swing · leaves

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. game — a match
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. game — wild animals
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. bark — to shout
  17. swing — to play on
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. swing — music
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — lets stay

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