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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. fork — in a road
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. saw — the tool
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. can — a tin
  8. saw — the tool
  9. net — after costs
  10. net — in sport
  11. net — for catching
  12. firm — steady
  13. can — to be able to
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. can — a tin
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. row — to paddle
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. lie — to recline
  21. firm — decided
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. row — a line

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