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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 116 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: squash · pop · deal · perch · press · stock · spell · mug

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. deal — to handle
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. press — to push
  6. spell — a short time
  7. press — newspapers
  8. squash — to crush
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. mug — a face
  11. spell — magic
  12. mug — a cup
  13. stock — goods
  14. pop — soda
  15. pop — to visit
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. mug — to rob
  18. squash — the sport
  19. stock — shares
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. pop — music
  23. perch — the fish
  24. press — a publisher

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