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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: hide · field · cue · safe · current · pop · mark · foot

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. cue — a hint
  6. mark — a trace
  7. pop — to visit
  8. foot — a measure
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. current — happening now
  11. field — a subject
  12. mark — a grade
  13. current — electric
  14. current — of water
  15. cue — a signal
  16. cue — for pool
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. field — farmland
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. pop — soda
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pop — music
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. field — for sport

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