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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. suit — to fit
  6. field — for sport
  7. deal — to handle
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. field — a subject
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. suit — in cards
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. field — farmland
  17. suit — clothes
  18. squash — to crush
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. squash — the sport
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. rash — hasty
  24. coach — a trainer

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