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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 120 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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. charge — electricity
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. bark — to shout
  5. wake — a trail
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bound — obliged
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. track — a song
  11. season — in sport
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. charge — a price
  16. track — a path
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. bound — certain
  21. season — of the year
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. charge — in control

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