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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 sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. track — to keep track
  4. bulb — for light
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. net — in sport
  10. can — a tin
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fork — in a road
  14. firm — decided
  15. net — after costs
  16. net — for catching
  17. firm — a company
  18. can — a tin
  19. stand — to bear
  20. can — to be able to
  21. firm — steady
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. track — a song
  24. track — a path

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