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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. fork — in a road
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. current — of water
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bulb — for light
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rash — hasty
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. current — electric
  13. mate — to breed
  14. mate — a friend
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. rash — a series
  19. current — happening now
  20. vault — a safe
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. mate — a partner

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