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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 116 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 usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. rash — a series
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. fork — in a road
  7. suit — in cards
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. suit — clothes
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. suit — to fit
  15. court — of a king
  16. rush — hurry
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. court — of law
  19. court — for sport
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rash — hasty
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. nail — on a finger

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