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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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. bear — the animal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. ground — a position
  12. saw — the tool
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. ground — crushed
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bear — the animal
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. saw — the tool
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. fork — in a road
  23. ground — the earth
  24. fan — to cool the air

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