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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: pop · hand · rush · ball · prune · racket · firm · pit

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. firm — decided
  4. firm — a company
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. rush — hurry
  7. hand — help
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. pop — soda
  10. prune — to trim
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. prune — to trim
  13. pop — music
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. firm — steady
  17. ball — a great time
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. hand — in cards
  21. pit — a hole
  22. ball — a dance
  23. pit — in a race
  24. pop — to visit

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