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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. rash — a series
  4. content — happy
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. can — a tin
  15. rock — a stone
  16. can — to be able to
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. content — the amount
  19. rash — hasty
  20. can — a tin
  21. mark — a grade
  22. mark — a trace
  23. foot — a measure
  24. rock — music

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