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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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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 · mine · foot · mouse · charge · temple · club · stick

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. charge — in control
  4. foot — a measure
  5. charge — electricity
  6. club — for dancing
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. mine — for digging
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. charge — a price
  12. club — a group
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. fork — in a road
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. club — for golf
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. mouse — the 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