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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: coach · wound · racket · cabinet · pop · safe · mark · mouse

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. wound — an injury
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. wound — an injury
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. pop — soda
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. mark — a trace
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. pop — to visit
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a grade
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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