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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. scale — size or range
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. fork — in a road
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. perch — the fish
  12. scale — in music
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. ground — a position
  16. board — to get on
  17. vault — a safe
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. ground — crushed
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. ground — the earth
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. board — a committee

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