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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: can · fork · leaves · sharp · drill · stick · staff · track

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. drill — army training
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. staff — employees
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. track — a song
  9. drill — a practice
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. staff — a stick
  12. drill — the tool
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. track — a path
  15. sharp — clever
  16. fork — in a road
  17. staff — employees
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. can — to be able to
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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