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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: mouse · roll · pop · wax · toast · ruler · mate · spell

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mate — to breed
  4. spell — letters
  5. mate — a partner
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. pop — soda
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. wax — to grow
  12. spell — a short time
  13. mate — a friend
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. pop — music
  19. roll — a cake
  20. toast — bread
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. spell — magic
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. pop — to visit

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