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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. vault — a safe
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. object — an aim
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. mark — a trace
  17. object — a thing
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. object — to protest
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. mark — a grade
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. leaves — to go away

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