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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: bay · shower · bass · fork · current · pit · track · leaves

  1. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. track — a song
  4. pit — in a race
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. bass — the fish
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. current — electric
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. shower — rain
  13. pit — a hole
  14. current — happening now
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. current — of water
  19. bass — low music
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. fork — in a road
  22. track — a path
  23. track — to keep track
  24. shower — to wash

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