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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 120 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: pass · wound · foot · cabinet · nail · saw · spell · fork

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. spell — magic
  4. spell — letters
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. spell — a short time
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. wound — an injury
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. pass — a permit
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. foot — a measure
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. wound — an injury
  21. saw — the tool
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. saw — the tool

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