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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: deal · can · ground · stick · stem · mouse · pop · plane

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. pop — to visit
  3. ground — the earth
  4. can — a tin
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. can — a tin
  9. plane — a tool
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. pop — music
  12. stem — to come from
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. ground — crushed
  15. pop — soda
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. deal — to handle
  22. ground — a position
  23. can — to be able to
  24. stick — to attach or keep 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