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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 120 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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. fine — high quality
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. track — a path
  5. ground — the earth
  6. fine — all right
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. track — to keep track
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. rash — hasty
  12. bear — the animal
  13. track — a song
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. bear — the animal
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. ground — crushed
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. ground — a position
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. rash — a series

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