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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. chip — to eat
  3. march — the month
  4. pop — music
  5. march — music
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. fine — high quality
  8. field — for sport
  9. field — a subject
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. rush — hurry
  12. chip — for betting
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. field — farmland
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. rock — music
  18. pop — to visit
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. pop — soda
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. fine — all right

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