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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
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: leaves · racket · calf · chip · mouse · fork · fan · key

  1. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. chip — for betting
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. chip — to eat
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. key — the most important part
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. key — in music
  21. key — for a lock
  22. fork — in a road
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. calf — a young animal

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