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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
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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: mouse · can · lean · safe · spell · squash · track · stick

  1. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. lean — thin
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. track — a song
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. track — to keep track
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. squash — to crush
  16. lean — to bend
  17. can — to be able to
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. track — a path
  20. spell — letters
  21. spell — magic
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. spell — a short time

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