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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. mark — a trace
  5. field — for sport
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. board — to get on
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. stock — shares
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. board — a committee
  18. fork — in a road
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. field — farmland
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. field — a subject
  24. stock — goods

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