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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. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. field — farmland
  2. field — for sport
  3. can — to be able to
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. field — a subject
  7. mate — a friend
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. mate — to breed
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a cup
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. rock — music
  14. can — a tin
  15. pit — a hole
  16. mug — a face
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. rock — a stone
  19. mate — a partner
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. can — a tin
  24. pit — in a race

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