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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.

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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: stand · field · mark · net · season · row · fine · wind

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. wind — to turn a key
  5. row — to paddle
  6. field — for sport
  7. net — for catching
  8. mark — a grade
  9. season — of the year
  10. net — after costs
  11. field — farmland
  12. wind — moving air
  13. net — in sport
  14. fine — all right
  15. row — a line
  16. stand — to bear
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. field — a subject
  20. season — in sport
  21. wind — moving air
  22. fine — high quality
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. stand — on your feet

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