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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.

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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. can — a tin
  4. kid — child
  5. deal — to handle
  6. squash — the sport
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. foot — a measure
  11. key — the most important part
  12. can — to be able to
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — a trace
  15. kid — to tease
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. squash — to crush
  21. key — in music
  22. key — for a lock
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. foot — part of the body

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