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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 116 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: field · sharp · bore · craft · stem · rush · mug · leaves

  1. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. field — farmland
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. mug — to rob
  4. craft — a skill
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. stem — to come from
  7. field — a subject
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. bore — to drill
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. sharp — clever
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. mug — a face
  16. mug — a cup
  17. field — for sport
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. bore — to tire
  20. rush — hurry
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. craft — boats
  24. stem — a stem cell

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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