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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: can · mouse · scale · racket · lie · rock · sharp · leaves

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. can — a tin
  5. lie — to recline
  6. scale — size or range
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. can — a tin
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. sharp — clever
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. can — to be able to
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. rock — music
  23. scale — in music
  24. mouse — 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