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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.

Make a worksheet

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: racket · foot · chest · bank · staff · game · bulb · suit

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. staff — a stick
  3. bank — for money
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. foot — a measure
  6. bulb — for light
  7. game — wild animals
  8. game — a match
  9. suit — clothes
  10. bank — of a river
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. chest — a box
  13. staff — employees
  14. staff — employees
  15. suit — in cards
  16. bank — for money
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. chest — of your body
  19. bulb — for light
  20. chest — of your body
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. suit — to fit
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. bulb — of a plant

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