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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 · racket · bat · toast · roll · sharp · bore · bound

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  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. bat — in an idiom
  2. bat — the animal
  3. sharp — clever
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. bore — to drill
  6. bound — tied together
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. field — farmland
  11. field — for sport
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. toast — bread
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. roll — a list
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bore — to tire
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. roll — a cake
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. bound — certain
  23. bound — obliged
  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