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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 116 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 · cabinet · rock · dip · wound · bear · mouse · scale

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. wound — an injury
  7. bear — the animal
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — music
  11. wound — an injury
  12. dip — to sink
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bear — the animal
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. scale — in music
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. scale — size or range
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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