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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  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. safe — a strongbox
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. suit — in cards
  7. fork — in a road
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. suit — clothes
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. pass — a permit
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. suit — to fit
  19. scale — size or range
  20. scale — in music
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. coach — a trainer
  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