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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 120 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: fork · track · object · pop · safe · wake · face · cabinet

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. wake — a trail
  3. track — a path
  4. pop — to visit
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. face — part of the head
  7. face — to confront
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. pop — soda
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. fork — in a road
  12. object — to protest
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. face — to point toward
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. track — a song
  21. track — to keep track
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. object — a thing
  24. object — an aim

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