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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 116 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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. field — farmland
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. field — a subject
  5. field — for sport
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. firm — steady
  8. current — happening now
  9. firm — decided
  10. board — a committee
  11. season — of the year
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. current — electric
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. firm — a company
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. season — in sport
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. board — to get on
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. dip — to sink
  23. current — of water
  24. ruler — for measuring

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