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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: wound · rash · calf · drill · bank · mate · fork · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. bank — for money
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. mate — a friend
  6. fine — high quality
  7. drill — the tool
  8. rash — a series
  9. fork — in a road
  10. bank — of a river
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. fine — all right
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. bank — for money
  15. wound — an injury
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mate — a partner
  19. rash — hasty
  20. drill — a practice
  21. wound — an injury
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. drill — army training

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