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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
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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: march · fine · pop · mine · content · mug · mark · can

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mine — for digging
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. mark — a trace
  5. march — music
  6. content — the amount
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — to rob
  13. pop — soda
  14. fine — high quality
  15. can — a tin
  16. pop — music
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. content — happy
  19. march — the month
  20. pop — to visit
  21. mark — a grade
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. fine — all right
  24. march — the month

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