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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: mouse · pitcher · spell · racket · pop · nail · cap · fan

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. spell — magic
  7. pop — music
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. spell — letters
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. pop — to visit
  12. pop — soda
  13. cap — of ice
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. cap — a lid
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. cap — a hat

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