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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.

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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: field · pass · wind · bear · suit · net · mug · can

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  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. can — to be able to
  2. suit — clothes
  3. bear — the animal
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. can — a tin
  7. field — for sport
  8. wind — moving air
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. net — after costs
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. mug — a face
  13. wind — moving air
  14. mug — a cup
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bear — the animal
  18. mug — to rob
  19. net — in sport
  20. net — for catching
  21. field — farmland
  22. suit — in cards
  23. can — a tin
  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