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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 120 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: calf · rock · spring · mouse · stand · pop · can · content

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. content — the amount
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. spring — of water
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. can — a tin
  11. pop — soda
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. spring — the season
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pop — to visit
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. pop — music
  19. rock — music
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. stand — to bear
  23. content — happy
  24. spring — a coil

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