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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: arm · perch · squash · bank · fork · can · drill · fine

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  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. fork — in a road
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. can — a tin
  6. bank — for money
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. fine — all right
  9. can — a tin
  10. drill — a practice
  11. squash — to crush
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. perch — the fish
  15. bank — for money
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. fine — high quality
  18. squash — the sport
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. can — to be able to
  21. drill — the tool
  22. bank — of a river
  23. fork — a garden tool
  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