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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 · fork · trunk · saw · band · wave · row · can

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. saw — the tool
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. row — a line
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. can — a tin
  12. band — a ring
  13. can — a tin
  14. row — to paddle
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. band — a music group
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. can — to be able to
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. leaves — of a tree

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