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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: field · rock · craft · net · leaves · fine · mug · temple

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. mug — a face
  3. mug — a cup
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. craft — boats
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. field — for sport
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. fine — all right
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. net — after costs
  14. net — in sport
  15. rock — music
  16. rock — a stone
  17. field — a subject
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. fine — high quality
  20. field — farmland
  21. mug — to rob
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. craft — a skill

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