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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · plane · fine · cue · fan · mouse · vault · can

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. fork — in a road
  4. cue — a signal
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. can — a tin
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. cue — for pool
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. plane — a tool
  15. fine — high quality
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. fine — all right
  22. vault — a safe
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. fan — a supporter

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