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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
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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: field · jam · fork · ball · season · snap · perch · bear

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. season — in sport
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. field — farmland
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. fork — in a road
  11. snap — to click
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. field — for sport
  15. field — a subject
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. ball — a dance
  18. season — of the year
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. bear — the animal
  22. perch — the fish
  23. ball — a great time
  24. snap — to speak sharply

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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