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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: ball · roll · can · rock · track · stick · saw · rush

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  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. roll — on a roll
  2. can — a tin
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. track — a song
  5. ball — a dance
  6. track — a path
  7. roll — a list
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. roll — a cake
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. can — a tin
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. saw — the tool
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. rush — hurry
  19. ball — a great time
  20. rock — a stone
  21. track — to keep track
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. rock — music
  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