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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pop · spell · charge · perch · fan · dip · can · rush

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. pop — soda
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pop — music
  5. spell — letters
  6. spell — a short time
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — to be able to
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. can — a tin
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. rush — hurry
  14. dip — to sink
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. charge — a price
  17. spell — magic
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. perch — the fish
  20. charge — in control
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. charge — electricity
  23. pop — to visit
  24. fan — to cool the air

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