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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. net — in sport
  3. shower — rain
  4. pop — music
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. mug — to rob
  8. object — a thing
  9. mug — a face
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. object — an aim
  12. lean — to bend
  13. pop — soda
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. shower — to wash
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. lean — thin
  19. pop — to visit
  20. net — for catching
  21. net — after costs
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. mug — a cup
  24. object — to protest

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