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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pop · land · squash · racket · rock · row · foot · bowl

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. rock — a stone
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. row — to paddle
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. rock — music
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. pop — to visit
  9. pop — music
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. land — ground
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. land — to come down
  15. foot — a measure
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. squash — to crush
  19. pop — soda
  20. land — a country
  21. squash — the sport
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. racket — a loud noise

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