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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 120 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: bowl · leaves · can · mouse · spell · stick · pop · rock

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. rock — a stone
  4. pop — music
  5. spell — magic
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. spell — letters
  8. rock — music
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. can — to be able to
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. pop — to visit
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. can — a tin
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. pop — soda
  23. can — a tin
  24. leaves — of a tree

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