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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: racket · spring · fork · saw · jam · net · chip · board

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. spring — a coil
  5. net — for catching
  6. fork — in a road
  7. spring — of water
  8. saw — the tool
  9. spring — the season
  10. chip — to eat
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. net — in sport
  13. chip — for betting
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. board — to get on
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. saw — the tool
  19. net — after costs
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. board — a committee

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