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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. rock — a stone
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. fork — in a road
  8. key — in music
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. bear — the animal
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. key — for a lock
  17. hand — help
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. key — the most important part
  22. hand — in cards
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bear — the animal

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