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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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468
Word bank
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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 came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. suit — in cards
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. pop — to visit
  6. suit — clothes
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. suit — to fit
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. snap — to click
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. pop — music
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. vault — a safe
  17. pop — soda
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. racket — for tennis

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