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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 120 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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. field — for sport
  3. drill — the tool
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. field — a subject
  7. saw — the tool
  8. drill — a practice
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. drill — army training
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. field — farmland
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. temple — side of the head

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