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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.

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: can · trunk · mate · pop · plane · game · rush · row

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. can — a tin
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. plane — a tool
  5. pop — soda
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. pop — to visit
  11. can — a tin
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. game — wild animals
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. row — a line
  16. pop — music
  17. game — a match
  18. mate — a friend
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. mate — to breed
  21. mate — a partner
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. rush — hurry
  24. can — to be able to

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