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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. key — for a lock
  3. mark — a trace
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. field — farmland
  6. rock — a stone
  7. field — a subject
  8. cue — for pool
  9. key — in music
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. fork — in a road
  12. cue — a signal
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. rock — music
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. field — for sport
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. mark — a grade
  21. cue — a hint
  22. stem — to come from
  23. key — the most important part
  24. bay — a horse colour

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