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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. season — of the year
  3. saw — the tool
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. pop — soda
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. mate — a friend
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. season — in sport
  11. mate — to breed
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. fork — in a road
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. pop — to visit
  17. foot — a measure
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. mate — a partner
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. pop — music

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