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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. field — farmland
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. saw — the tool
  6. suit — to fit
  7. mug — a cup
  8. tube — a container
  9. field — for sport
  10. suit — clothes
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. suit — in cards
  13. track — a path
  14. can — a tin
  15. saw — the tool
  16. track — to keep track
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. track — a song
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. mug — to rob
  21. field — a subject
  22. toast — bread
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. tube — the underground

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