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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 116 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. track — to keep track
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. field — for sport
  6. mug — a face
  7. mug — to rob
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. field — farmland
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mug — a cup
  13. bass — the fish
  14. file — a tool
  15. bass — low music
  16. track — a song
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. file — a document
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. file — a line of people
  21. field — a subject
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. track — a path

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