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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. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — farmland
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. pound — a weight
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. rush — hurry
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. pitch — completely
  11. field — a subject
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. stand — to bear
  15. field — for sport
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. toast — bread
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. stand — for spectators

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