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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. field — for sport
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. season — in sport
  8. plane — a tool
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. mark — a grade
  11. mark — a trace
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. field — a subject
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. season — of the year
  18. field — farmland
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. temple — a place of worship

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