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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 120 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: mouse · bass · racket · mate · prune · game · leaves · key

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in 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. leaves — of a tree
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. bass — low music
  5. prune — to trim
  6. mate — a friend
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. bass — the fish
  10. key — in music
  11. mate — to breed
  12. mate — a partner
  13. key — for a lock
  14. key — the most important part
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. game — a match
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. game — wild animals
  22. prune — to trim
  23. racket — a loud noise
  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