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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: fine · squash · toast · spell · pop · foot · snap · nail

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. squash — to crush
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. foot — a measure
  10. pop — music
  11. pop — to visit
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. fine — high quality
  15. spell — letters
  16. snap — to click
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. pop — soda
  21. spell — a short time
  22. squash — the sport
  23. spell — magic
  24. fine — all right

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