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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. track — a song
  3. fall — the season
  4. foot — a measure
  5. pop — music
  6. pop — to visit
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. fall — to drop
  11. track — a path
  12. pop — soda
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. track — to keep track
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. can — a tin
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. fall — to drop
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — to be able to

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