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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 116 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. fork — in a road
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. field — farmland
  5. current — electric
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. field — a subject
  13. saw — the tool
  14. track — a path
  15. track — to keep track
  16. current — happening now
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. current — of water
  21. saw — the tool
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. track — a song
  24. field — for sport

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