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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: ball · can · deal · root · tube · mug · spell · kick

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. mug — a cup
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. can — to be able to
  5. spell — letters
  6. root — of a plant
  7. root — the cause
  8. root — of a word
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. ball — a dance
  11. can — a tin
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. mug — to rob
  15. spell — magic
  16. can — a tin
  17. ball — a great time
  18. tube — the underground
  19. mug — a face
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. kick — in football
  24. spell — a short time

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