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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: lie · toast · court · racket · rock · cabinet · pit · mouse

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. court — for sport
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pit — in a race
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. rock — a stone
  8. toast — bread
  9. court — of law
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. court — of a king
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. rock — music
  19. pit — a hole
  20. lie — to recline
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. rock — to move gently

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