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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 116 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 my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. pop — to visit
  3. track — a path
  4. mug — to rob
  5. can — a tin
  6. ball — a dance
  7. mug — a cup
  8. track — to keep track
  9. pop — soda
  10. can — a tin
  11. kick — in football
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. pop — music
  14. mug — a face
  15. fork — in a road
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. ball — a great time
  20. squash — the sport
  21. can — to be able to
  22. squash — to crush
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. fork — to eat with

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