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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: mouse · nail · can · cap · kid · calf · cue · spring

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. cue — a hint
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. cap — a hat
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. cap — of ice
  12. spring — of water
  13. kid — child
  14. spring — the season
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. spring — a coil
  17. kid — to tease
  18. cue — for pool
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. cue — a signal
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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