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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: mug · rest · ground · rock · bulb · nail · fork · present

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. ground — the earth
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. mug — a face
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rest — a break
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. fork — in a road
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bulb — for light
  12. present — there
  13. rock — a stone
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rock — music
  17. present — the time now
  18. bulb — for light
  19. ground — a position
  20. present — a gift
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. ground — crushed
  23. mug — a cup
  24. mug — to rob

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