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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: degree · band · tube · safe · dip · can · racket · bat

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. dip — to sink
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. degree — from a university
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. band — a music group
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. degree — temperature
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. band — a ring
  12. tube — the underground
  13. can — a tin
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. can — a tin
  16. tube — a container
  17. bat — the animal
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. degree — an amount
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. can — to be able to
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. safe — out of danger

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