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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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  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. ground — crushed
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. field — for sport
  4. ground — the earth
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. bulb — for light
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. field — farmland
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. ground — a position
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. field — a subject
  22. bulb — for light
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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