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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 120 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: leaves · mouse · racket · bass · hand · pit · bound · track

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. hand — help
  6. track — to keep track
  7. bass — low music
  8. pit — a hole
  9. pit — in a race
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. bass — the fish
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. bound — obliged
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. hand — in cards
  22. bound — certain
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. track — a path

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