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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. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — farmland
  2. stand — to bear
  3. pop — to visit
  4. field — for sport
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pop — soda
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. pit — in a race
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. pitch — completely
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. pop — music
  14. pit — a hole
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. current — happening now
  17. field — a subject
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. current — electric
  23. current — of water
  24. stand — for spectators

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