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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: bay · stock · bat · mouse · racket · pitcher · suit · dip

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. stock — goods
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. stock — shares
  9. suit — to fit
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. suit — clothes
  15. suit — in cards
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. dip — to sink
  21. bat — the animal
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. dip — to dunk

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