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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: pop · mouse · rule · mate · perch · can · nail · ball

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  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. ball — a round shape
  2. ball — a dance
  3. rule — a law
  4. pop — soda
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. pop — to visit
  7. rule — to rule out
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. ball — a great time
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. can — a tin
  12. mate — a friend
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. perch — the fish
  15. mate — to breed
  16. can — a tin
  17. pop — music
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. mate — a partner
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. rule — government
  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