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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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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: bass · racket · pop · bound · nail · bowl · branch · mouse

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pop — to visit
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. branch — a division
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. bound — certain
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. pop — soda
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. bound — tied together
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. pop — music
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bass — low music
  24. bound — obliged

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