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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.

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: lash · pit · field · mine · mouse · bound · mark · bowl

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. field — farmland
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. mark — a grade
  6. field — a subject
  7. field — for sport
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. pit — in a race
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. pit — a hole
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bound — tied together
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. mark — a trace
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. mine — for digging
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. bound — certain
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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