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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: row · field · pass · craft · fork · mine · current · temple

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. field — farmland
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. current — happening now
  6. current — electric
  7. field — for sport
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. craft — a skill
  10. fork — in a road
  11. row — to paddle
  12. mine — for digging
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. pass — a permit
  17. craft — boats
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. current — of water
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. row — a line

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