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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 120 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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. pit — a hole
  4. suit — in cards
  5. field — for sport
  6. suit — clothes
  7. rock — a stone
  8. mate — a friend
  9. mug — to rob
  10. rock — music
  11. mug — a face
  12. mate — to breed
  13. saw — the tool
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mate — a partner
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. field — farmland
  18. saw — the tool
  19. season — in sport
  20. mug — a cup
  21. field — a subject
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. pit — in a race
  24. rock — to move gently

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