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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: spring · toast · jam · fine · perch · nail · fork · field

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. field — farmland
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. spring — the season
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. spring — of water
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. field — for sport
  11. fine — high quality
  12. field — a subject
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. fork — in a road
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. spring — a coil
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. toast — bread
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. perch — the fish
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. fine — all right

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