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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. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. squash — to crush
  5. bear — the animal
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. field — farmland
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. bear — the animal
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. squash — the sport
  14. bound — certain
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. field — for sport
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. lie — to recline
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. toast — bread

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