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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. staff — employees
  3. field — for sport
  4. mine — for digging
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. staff — employees
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. can — a tin
  11. field — farmland
  12. staff — a stick
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. can — to be able to
  15. fine — all right
  16. ball — a dance
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ball — a great time
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. can — a tin
  23. fine — high quality
  24. field — a subject

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