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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. stock — goods
  3. fork — in a road
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. fine — all right
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. can — a tin
  11. land — a country
  12. mark — a grade
  13. land — to come down
  14. stock — shares
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. land — ground
  18. can — to be able to
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. fine — high quality
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. mark — a trace
  23. can — a tin
  24. branch — a division

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