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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. foot — a measure
  3. track — a song
  4. bear — the animal
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. track — to keep track
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. bass — low music
  12. bass — the fish
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. track — a path
  15. sharp — clever
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — to rob
  19. fork — in a road
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. mug — a face

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