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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: roll · rock · bowl · fork · pop · key · toast · net

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. pop — to visit
  4. key — for a lock
  5. net — for catching
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. key — the most important part
  8. rock — music
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. roll — a list
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. net — after costs
  13. pop — music
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. rock — a stone
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. pop — soda
  19. key — in music
  20. roll — a cake
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. toast — bread
  23. fork — in a road
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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