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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.

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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. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. can — to be able to
  3. field — a subject
  4. can — a tin
  5. roll — a list
  6. club — for dancing
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. cue — for pool
  9. fine — high quality
  10. field — farmland
  11. roll — a cake
  12. can — a tin
  13. fine — all right
  14. cue — a hint
  15. club — a group
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. club — for golf
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. rock — music
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. cue — a signal
  24. rock — a stone

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