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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 came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. wound — an injury
  3. mug — a cup
  4. tube — a container
  5. mug — to rob
  6. deal — to handle
  7. tube — the underground
  8. craft — boats
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. cap — a hat
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mug — a face
  16. craft — a skill
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. cap — a lid
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. wound — an injury
  21. cap — of ice
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. deal — an agreement

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