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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: bear · dip · hand · bank · racket · court · key · rush

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. hand — in cards
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. court — for sport
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bank — for money
  10. bear — the animal
  11. key — in music
  12. bank — for money
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. court — of a king
  15. hand — help
  16. rush — hurry
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — for a lock
  20. court — of law
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. bank — of a river
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. bear — the 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