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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. scale — in music
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. wound — an injury
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. saw — the tool
  8. charge — in control
  9. scale — size or range
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. wound — an injury
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. foot — a measure
  15. charge — electricity
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. bound — certain
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bound — obliged
  20. charge — a price
  21. bound — tied together
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. rush — hurry
  24. fork — to eat with

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