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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: bark · cabinet · foot · kick · bound · ball · saw · fork

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. saw — the tool
  3. ball — a dance
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bound — obliged
  6. foot — a measure
  7. saw — the tool
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. ball — a great time
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. bound — certain
  14. bark — to shout
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. bound — tied together
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fork — in a road
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. kick — in football

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