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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 116 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: tube · racket · ball · bore · mark · mate · fan · cabinet

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a great time
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. ball — a dance
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. bore — to drill
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mate — a friend
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. tube — a container
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. mark — a grade
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. mate — a partner
  20. mate — to breed
  21. bore — to tire
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. tube — the underground
  24. mark — a trace

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