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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. field — a subject
  3. deal — to handle
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. track — a song
  6. ground — the earth
  7. field — for sport
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. wound — an injury
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. rush — hurry
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. track — a path
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. wound — an injury
  20. ground — a position
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. track — to keep track
  23. field — farmland
  24. ground — crushed

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