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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. content — happy
  3. tube — a container
  4. mark — a grade
  5. foot — a measure
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. mark — a trace
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. can — a tin
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. content — the amount
  13. sharp — clever
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. tube — the underground
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. can — to be able to
  19. spell — magic
  20. spell — letters
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. can — a tin

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