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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: toast · pop · row · rush · cap · rock · ball · racket

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. pop — soda
  4. toast — bread
  5. ball — a dance
  6. cap — a hat
  7. cap — a lid
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. rock — music
  14. pop — to visit
  15. ball — a great time
  16. rush — hurry
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. pop — music
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. row — to paddle
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. cap — of ice

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