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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. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. fork — in a road
  3. club — for dancing
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. club — a group
  7. stock — shares
  8. club — for golf
  9. object — an aim
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. object — a thing
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. branch — a division
  14. current — happening now
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. current — of water
  18. current — electric
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. object — to protest
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. stock — goods
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. sharp — clever

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