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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 usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. foot — a measure
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. suit — clothes
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. can — to be able to
  7. ball — a great time
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. fork — in a road
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. roll — a cake
  13. ball — a dance
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. roll — a list
  16. can — a tin
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. suit — in cards
  19. can — a tin
  20. prune — to trim
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. suit — to fit
  24. prune — to trim

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