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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: pop · racket · spell · toast · key · mouse · rest · track

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. track — a song
  3. rest — what's left
  4. key — the most important part
  5. key — for a lock
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. track — to keep track
  9. pop — music
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. spell — magic
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. pop — soda
  14. track — a path
  15. key — in music
  16. spell — letters
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. spell — a short time
  19. rest — a break
  20. toast — bread
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. pop — to visit
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. rest — what's left

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