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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: mark · bore · object · pop · stock · field · mouse · mate

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. field — for sport
  3. bore — to drill
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. object — a thing
  6. pop — music
  7. object — to protest
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mark — a trace
  12. object — an aim
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. pop — to visit
  15. mark — a grade
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. stock — shares
  18. pop — soda
  19. bore — to tire
  20. stock — goods
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. mate — to breed
  23. field — farmland
  24. mate — a friend

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