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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: fine · row · sharp · deal · plane · present · track · fork

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. row — a line
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. present — the time now
  5. track — a path
  6. row — to paddle
  7. plane — a tool
  8. sharp — clever
  9. fine — all right
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. fine — high quality
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. present — a gift
  21. track — a song
  22. present — there
  23. deal — to handle
  24. track — to keep track

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