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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.

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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: can · bear · foot · fork · pop · branch · fine · spell

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. spell — a short time
  3. can — to be able to
  4. foot — a measure
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. can — a tin
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. bear — the animal
  11. pop — soda
  12. branch — a division
  13. pop — to visit
  14. can — a tin
  15. fine — all right
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. bear — the animal
  19. spell — magic
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. spell — letters
  23. pop — music
  24. fine — high quality

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