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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: firm · hand · racket · mark · bore · scale · fork · rock

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bore — to tire
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. fork — in a road
  6. hand — help
  7. mark — a grade
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. firm — a company
  10. rock — music
  11. scale — size or range
  12. firm — decided
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. bore — to drill
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. firm — steady
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. scale — in music
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. hand — in cards
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. rock — a stone
  24. fork — a garden tool

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