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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 116 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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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: ball · fork · current · fine · stick · bay · stem · mark

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. ball — a dance
  3. current — of water
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mark — a grade
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. fine — all right
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. current — happening now
  20. ball — a great time
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. current — electric
  23. fine — high quality
  24. fork — in a road

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