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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.

Make a worksheet

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: fork · snap · foot · rush · bulb · fan · racket · hand

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. foot — a measure
  3. hand — in cards
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. rush — hurry
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. hand — help
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. bulb — for light
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bulb — for light
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. snap — to click

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