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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: season · bowl · rock · mark · field · temple · staff · safe

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. field — a subject
  5. rock — a stone
  6. mark — a grade
  7. rock — music
  8. mark — a trace
  9. staff — employees
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. staff — employees
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. field — farmland
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. season — in sport
  20. staff — a stick
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. season — of the year
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. field — for sport

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