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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: pitcher · lie · fine · field · drill · suit · mate · calf

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  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. suit — in cards
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. mate — to breed
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. field — farmland
  6. drill — the tool
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. mate — a friend
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. fine — high quality
  11. drill — army training
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. drill — a practice
  15. mate — a partner
  16. suit — to fit
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. field — for sport
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. lie — to recline
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. suit — clothes
  23. fine — all right
  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