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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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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 · arm · fork · jam · bank · rock · fan · stick

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. rock — a stone
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. bank — for money
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. fine — all right
  14. fine — high quality
  15. fork — in a road
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. bank — for money
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. rock — music
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. bank — of a river

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