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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 116 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: game · squash · can · mouse · spell · last · mug · stick

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. can — a tin
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. game — a match
  6. spell — a short time
  7. game — wild animals
  8. last — finally
  9. mug — a face
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. last — to go on
  14. can — to be able to
  15. mug — a cup
  16. squash — to crush
  17. last — final
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. spell — magic
  20. squash — the sport
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. mug — to rob
  23. spell — letters
  24. can — a tin

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