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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. field — a subject
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mug — a face
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. pit — in a race
  9. mug — a cup
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. pit — a hole
  13. rush — hurry
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. mug — to rob
  18. field — for sport
  19. row — a line
  20. field — farmland
  21. mark — a grade
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. mark — a trace

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