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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. wind — moving air
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. wind — moving air
  13. bass — low music
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. bass — the fish
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rush — hurry
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. dip — to sink
  21. board — a committee
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. board — to get on
  24. trunk — of a tree

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