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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 120 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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. cue — for pool
  4. cue — a hint
  5. season — of the year
  6. field — farmland
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. track — a song
  11. mark — a trace
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. fine — high quality
  14. can — to be able to
  15. track — to keep track
  16. field — a subject
  17. cue — a signal
  18. mark — a grade
  19. fine — all right
  20. can — a tin
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. field — for sport
  23. track — a path
  24. season — in sport

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