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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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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 · stick · cell · safe · rock · bowl · suit · fall

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. cell — a phone
  5. pop — music
  6. cell — in biology
  7. fall — the season
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rock — music
  10. pop — to visit
  11. suit — to fit
  12. suit — in cards
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. fall — to drop
  18. pop — soda
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. fall — to drop
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. suit — clothes
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. rock — a stone

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