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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
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: nail · cabinet · saw · leaves · rest · content · fork · sharp

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. rest — what's left
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. content — the amount
  9. saw — the tool
  10. sharp — clever
  11. content — happy
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. rest — what's left
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. saw — the tool
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. rest — a break

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