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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: mug · can · fork · stem · pound · lie · row · last

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. pound — a weight
  3. last — to go on
  4. fork — in a road
  5. last — finally
  6. mug — to rob
  7. last — final
  8. can — a tin
  9. mug — a cup
  10. lie — to recline
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. row — to paddle
  14. row — a line
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. can — a tin
  18. stem — to come from
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. can — to be able to
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. lie — an untruth

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