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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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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: stem · cap · can · nail · rock · chip · pound · mouse

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. rock — music
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. rock — a stone
  8. chip — to eat
  9. can — a tin
  10. pound — a weight
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. cap — a lid
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. can — to be able to
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. cap — a hat
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. chip — for betting
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. stem — to come from

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