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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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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: bear · nail · can · wake · fine · spring · racket · roll

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. spring — of water
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. bear — the animal
  7. fine — high quality
  8. can — a tin
  9. spring — a coil
  10. bear — the animal
  11. wake — a trail
  12. can — a tin
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. can — to be able to
  15. spring — the season
  16. roll — a cake
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. roll — a list
  24. fine — all right

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