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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: toast · wave · dip · drill · key · racket · mouse · prune

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. key — in music
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. key — the most important part
  6. key — for a lock
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. drill — army training
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. prune — to trim
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. drill — a practice
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. toast — bread
  20. prune — to trim
  21. drill — the tool
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. dip — to sink
  24. mouse — the animal

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