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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
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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: staff · pop · straw · stock · mate · fan · track · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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. track — a path
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. can — a tin
  6. track — a song
  7. track — to keep track
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. stock — goods
  11. staff — employees
  12. mate — a friend
  13. staff — employees
  14. pop — music
  15. pop — to visit
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. staff — a stick
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. pop — soda
  21. mate — a partner
  22. stock — shares
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. mate — to breed

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