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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
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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: fan · stock · row · can · jam · ruler · calf · fork

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. can — to be able to
  6. fork — in a road
  7. stock — goods
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. stock — shares
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. row — to paddle
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. can — a tin
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. row — a line
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. can — a tin
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. row — a quarrel

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