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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: can · squash · spell · cap · rest · object · drill · mark

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. cap — a lid
  3. drill — army training
  4. rest — a break
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. drill — a practice
  7. mark — a trace
  8. cap — of ice
  9. rest — what's left
  10. can — a tin
  11. object — an aim
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. mark — a grade
  14. squash — the sport
  15. object — to protest
  16. cap — a hat
  17. spell — a short time
  18. spell — magic
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. drill — the tool
  22. rest — what's left
  23. squash — to crush
  24. object — a thing

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