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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
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: can · squash · fine · racket · perch · mark · dip · tube

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. dip — to sink
  3. tube — a container
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. fine — all right
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. can — a tin
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. can — a tin
  14. squash — to crush
  15. tube — the underground
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mark — a trace
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. mark — a grade
  20. squash — the sport
  21. fine — high quality
  22. can — to be able to
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. perch — the fish

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