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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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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: present · perch · rest · fork · fan · cue · jam · squash

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  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. jam — in traffic
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. rest — what's left
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. squash — to crush
  7. cue — for pool
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. present — a gift
  11. present — the time now
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. rest — a break
  14. squash — the sport
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. perch — the fish
  17. fork — in a road
  18. rest — what's left
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. present — there
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. cue — a hint
  23. cue — a signal
  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