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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. fork — in a road
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. fine — all right
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. fine — high quality
  18. toast — bread
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. branch — a division
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. stem — to come from
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. fork — a garden tool

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