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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. mug — a cup
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. mug — to rob
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. spell — magic
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. club — for golf
  13. fine — all right
  14. spell — letters
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. club — a group
  17. fine — high quality
  18. sharp — clever
  19. mug — a face
  20. spell — a short time
  21. date — the fruit
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. club — for dancing

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