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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. spring — a coil
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. can — to be able to
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. field — for sport
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. field — a subject
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. spring — of water
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. field — farmland
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. spring — the season
  19. can — a tin
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. mark — a grade
  22. pit — in a race
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pit — a hole

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