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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. rock — a stone
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. stand — to bear
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. season — of the year
  11. rush — hurry
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. field — farmland
  14. field — a subject
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rock — music
  17. deal — to handle
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. field — for sport
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. season — in sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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