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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: deal · track · fork · cabinet · current · hide · fan · prune

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. current — electric
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. current — happening now
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. deal — to handle
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. track — a path
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. track — a song
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. prune — to trim
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. prune — to trim
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. track — to keep track
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. current — of water

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