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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: safe · fork · content · leaves · swing · mouse · fan · dip

  1. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. swing — in golf
  4. fork — in a road
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. content — the amount
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. content — happy
  9. swing — to play on
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. swing — music
  15. dip — to sink
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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