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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: row · staff · mouse · track · mug · fine · spell · sharp

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. row — a line
  3. fine — high quality
  4. staff — a stick
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. row — to paddle
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. staff — employees
  10. spell — letters
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — a face
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. sharp — clever
  15. track — a song
  16. mug — to rob
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. spell — magic
  21. spell — a short time
  22. track — a path
  23. track — to keep track
  24. fine — all right

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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