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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. press — newspapers
  3. court — for sport
  4. field — a subject
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. press — to push
  7. court — of law
  8. mark — a trace
  9. court — of a king
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. field — for sport
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. mark — a grade
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. press — a publisher
  21. field — farmland
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. coach — a trainer

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