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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 need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. squash — the sport
  5. track — to keep track
  6. rock — music
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. rock — a stone
  10. roll — a list
  11. swing — to play on
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. can — a tin
  14. track — a path
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. swing — in golf
  17. can — to be able to
  18. swing — music
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. roll — a cake
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. track — a song
  23. can — a tin
  24. squash — to crush

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