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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: scale · content · fork · bear · arm · jam · plane · suit

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. bear — the animal
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. fork — in a road
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. scale — size or range
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. plane — a tool
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. content — happy
  16. suit — clothes
  17. bear — the animal
  18. suit — in cards
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. content — the amount
  22. suit — to fit
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. scale — in music

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