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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: mug · game · leaves · ground · can · stem · suit · field

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. game — wild animals
  3. mug — a face
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. can — a tin
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. ground — the earth
  9. game — a match
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. mug — to rob
  12. field — for sport
  13. ground — a position
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. field — a subject
  16. ground — crushed
  17. mug — a cup
  18. suit — clothes
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. can — a tin
  21. suit — to fit
  22. can — to be able to
  23. suit — in cards
  24. field — farmland

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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