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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.

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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: suit · rest · rash · perch · bank · racket · mouse · trunk

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. bank — of a river
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. perch — the fish
  7. suit — clothes
  8. rash — a series
  9. suit — to fit
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. bank — for money
  15. rest — a break
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. rest — what's left
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bank — for money
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rest — what's left
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. trunk — of a tree

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