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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.

Make a worksheet

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: racket · suit · firm · fork · mine · leaves · can · patient

  1. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. can — a tin
  4. suit — to fit
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. can — a tin
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. suit — in cards
  9. firm — a company
  10. fork — in a road
  11. firm — steady
  12. suit — clothes
  13. firm — decided
  14. can — to be able to
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. mine — for digging
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. fork — a garden tool

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