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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: mug · field · spell · dip · mark · track · mouse · can

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. track — to keep track
  3. field — farmland
  4. spell — magic
  5. dip — to sink
  6. mug — a face
  7. track — a path
  8. can — a tin
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. can — a tin
  12. mark — a trace
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. field — a subject
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. field — for sport
  18. can — to be able to
  19. mug — a cup
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. spell — letters
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. spell — a short time

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