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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: prune · object · bat · pound · court · racket · net · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. bat — the animal
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. net — for catching
  5. court — of law
  6. net — after costs
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. bat — for baseball
  9. prune — to trim
  10. pound — a weight
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. bat — in an idiom
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. object — an aim
  17. object — a thing
  18. net — in sport
  19. object — to protest
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. court — of a king
  22. court — for sport
  23. rock — music
  24. prune — to trim

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