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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 116 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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. mug — a face
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. rock — a stone
  6. mark — a grade
  7. fine — all right
  8. mug — a cup
  9. fine — high quality
  10. rock — music
  11. mark — a trace
  12. field — farmland
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. field — for sport
  15. mug — to rob
  16. scale — in music
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. field — a subject

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