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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.

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: hide · present · object · can · fork · tube · mate · fine

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. fork — in a road
  5. tube — the underground
  6. present — a gift
  7. fine — high quality
  8. mate — to breed
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. object — a thing
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. can — a tin
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. fine — all right
  19. tube — a container
  20. object — an aim
  21. mate — a partner
  22. present — there
  23. object — to protest
  24. present — the time now

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