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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 · toast · stick · mark · fine · pop · prune · mouse

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. pop — soda
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. mark — a trace
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. pop — to visit
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. prune — to trim
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. fine — high quality
  20. prune — to trim
  21. fine — all right
  22. pop — music
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mouse — the animal

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