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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. suit — in cards
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. track — a song
  5. mug — a face
  6. suit — to fit
  7. mug — to rob
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. track — to keep track
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mug — a cup
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mine — for digging
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. fork — in a road
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. track — a path
  21. pop — soda
  22. suit — clothes
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. pop — to visit

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