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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: mouse · toast · can · field · degree · board · racket · mate

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. field — for sport
  3. board — to get on
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. degree — an amount
  6. can — a tin
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. degree — from a university
  12. mate — a partner
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. mate — a friend
  16. board — a committee
  17. can — to be able to
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. can — a tin
  20. degree — temperature
  21. toast — bread
  22. field — farmland
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. field — a subject

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