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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 116 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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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: bulb · mouse · bowl · dip · fine · field · rush · mate

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. field — a subject
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mate — a friend
  6. field — farmland
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. rush — hurry
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. mate — a partner
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. bulb — for light
  13. dip — to sink
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. fine — high quality
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. fine — all right
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. mate — to breed
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. bowl — to roll

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