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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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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: bank · bear · pitch · racket · field · can · toast · fork

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. can — a tin
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. field — farmland
  8. toast — bread
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. can — to be able to
  12. pitch — completely
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. bank — for money
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. field — for sport
  18. can — a tin
  19. bear — the animal
  20. field — a subject
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bank — for money
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. bank — of a river

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