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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: march · rock · safe · racket · roll · can · mine · mate

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. roll — a list
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. can — a tin
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. mine — for digging
  9. can — to be able to
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. rock — music
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mate — to breed
  19. can — a tin
  20. march — the month
  21. march — music
  22. march — the month
  23. rock — a stone
  24. roll — a cake

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