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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. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. fall — to drop
  3. fine — high quality
  4. fall — the season
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. court — of law
  8. fall — to drop
  9. key — in music
  10. key — the most important part
  11. track — to keep track
  12. field — farmland
  13. can — a tin
  14. key — for a lock
  15. court — of a king
  16. court — for sport
  17. field — for sport
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. track — a path
  21. track — a song
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. fine — all right
  24. temple — a place of worship

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