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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. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. can — a tin
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. cue — a signal
  5. field — for sport
  6. can — a tin
  7. field — farmland
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. cue — for pool
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. bank — for money
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bank — of a river
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. cue — a hint
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. bank — for money

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