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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.

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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: can · safe · cabinet · track · lean · mug · pop · spell

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — to be able to
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. pop — music
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. can — a tin
  7. lean — thin
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. mug — a cup
  10. lean — to bend
  11. track — to keep track
  12. spell — magic
  13. mug — to rob
  14. track — a song
  15. pop — soda
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. spell — a short time
  19. track — a path
  20. pop — to visit
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. spell — letters
  23. mug — a face
  24. cabinet — ministers

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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