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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: temple · season · mark · bowl · ruler · cap · mouse · field

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. season — in sport
  4. mark — a grade
  5. cap — a lid
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. season — of the year
  10. cap — of ice
  11. mark — a trace
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. field — for sport
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. cap — a hat
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. field — farmland
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. ruler — a monarch

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