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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.

Make a worksheet

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: stick · prune · field · rush · mark · kick · ball · firm

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. field — a subject
  3. kick — in football
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. firm — steady
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. mark — a grade
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. prune — to trim
  13. ball — a great time
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. rush — hurry
  16. firm — decided
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. field — for sport
  19. prune — to trim
  20. mark — a trace
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. field — farmland
  23. firm — a company
  24. ball — a dance

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