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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: fork · spell · sharp · content · stand · fine · dip · pass

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. sharp — clever
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. fine — all right
  9. dip — to sink
  10. stand — to bear
  11. fine — high quality
  12. spell — a short time
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. fork — in a road
  15. pass — a permit
  16. spell — magic
  17. content — happy
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. content — the amount
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. spell — letters

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