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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.

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: stock · ball · swing · club · kick · mark · cabinet · mouse

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mark — a grade
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. swing — music
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. club — for dancing
  13. mark — a trace
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ball — a great time
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. kick — in football
  18. stock — shares
  19. stock — goods
  20. swing — to play on
  21. club — for golf
  22. club — a group
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. swing — in golf

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