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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. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. field — farmland
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mark — a grade
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. rock — music
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mug — a face
  10. ball — a great time
  11. field — for sport
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. stock — shares
  15. stock — goods
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. mug — a cup
  18. field — a subject
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. ball — a dance
  24. bear — to put up with

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