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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: roll · spell · content · mouse · racket · face · tube · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. content — the amount
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. foot — a measure
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. spell — magic
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. face — to confront
  10. face — part of the head
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. roll — a cake
  15. spell — a short time
  16. content — happy
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. roll — a list
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. tube — a container
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. face — to point toward
  23. spell — letters
  24. tube — the underground

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