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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: can · nail · mouse · object · snap · perch · court · mine

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. mine — for digging
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. snap — to click
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. perch — the fish
  15. can — a tin
  16. object — a thing
  17. court — for sport
  18. court — of a king
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. object — an aim
  22. object — to protest
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. can — to be able to

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