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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.

Make a worksheet

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: track · rest · squash · wave · nail · row · can · dip

  1. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. squash — to crush
  4. track — a path
  5. rest — what's left
  6. track — a song
  7. row — to paddle
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. can — to be able to
  10. rest — what's left
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. dip — to sink
  14. row — a line
  15. rest — a break
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. can — a tin
  20. track — to keep track
  21. can — a tin
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. wave — with your hand

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