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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  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. object — an aim
  3. rock — a stone
  4. object — a thing
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. court — of a king
  7. lean — thin
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. court — of law
  12. lean — to bend
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. can — a tin
  16. court — for sport
  17. stock — goods
  18. object — to protest
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. stock — shares
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. lean — to rest against
  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