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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: mouse · net · coach · racket · roll · lean · snap · calf

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. lean — thin
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. net — after costs
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. roll — a cake
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. net — in sport
  17. lean — to bend
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. net — for catching
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. roll — a list

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