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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
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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: arm · field · rock · cue · temple · object · stock · swing

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. rock — a stone
  4. object — to protest
  5. cue — a hint
  6. object — a thing
  7. cue — for pool
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. cue — a signal
  10. stock — goods
  11. swing — music
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. field — a subject
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rock — music
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. stock — shares
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. swing — in golf
  22. field — farmland
  23. object — an aim
  24. swing — to play on

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