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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. field — farmland
  4. ball — a great time
  5. saw — the tool
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. wound — an injury
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. field — for sport
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. saw — the tool
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pit — a hole
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. toast — bread
  20. ball — a dance
  21. pit — in a race
  22. wound — an injury
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. safe — out of danger

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