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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: perch · ball · temple · track · jam · fine · fork · suit

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. fine — high quality
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. track — a song
  9. suit — clothes
  10. ball — a dance
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. suit — to fit
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. perch — the fish
  16. fine — all right
  17. track — a path
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. ball — a great time
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. track — to keep track
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. fork — in a road

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