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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. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. ball — a dance
  3. saw — the tool
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. ball — a great time
  7. present — there
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. present — a gift
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. present — the time now
  15. perch — the fish
  16. lie — to recline
  17. fork — in a road
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. can — to be able to
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. saw — the tool
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. cabinet — ministers

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