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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 120 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
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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: suit · plane · wake · rock · field · fine · dip · mug

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. mug — to rob
  3. mug — a face
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rock — music
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. fine — high quality
  11. fine — all right
  12. field — for sport
  13. wake — a trail
  14. plane — a tool
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. mug — a cup
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. suit — to fit
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. dip — to sink
  22. suit — clothes
  23. suit — in cards
  24. field — farmland

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