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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: season · fork · face · bowl · object · lean · pitcher · suit

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. fork — in a road
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. suit — clothes
  7. season — in sport
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. face — part of the head
  10. lean — to bend
  11. suit — in cards
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. object — to protest
  14. face — to confront
  15. lean — thin
  16. object — a thing
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. object — an aim
  20. season — of the year
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. suit — to fit
  23. face — to point toward
  24. bowl — a dish

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