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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.

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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: deal · bound · pop · calf · toast · mouse · mark · rock

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. pop — soda
  4. rock — a stone
  5. rock — music
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bound — tied together
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. pop — to visit
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mark — a grade
  19. bound — certain
  20. deal — to handle
  21. pop — music
  22. bound — obliged
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  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