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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.

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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: racket · bound · craft · rush · bank · suit · perch · field

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. bound — tied together
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. craft — a skill
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. suit — clothes
  9. rush — hurry
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. bound — certain
  12. perch — the fish
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. bank — for money
  16. craft — boats
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. bank — of a river
  19. suit — in cards
  20. field — for sport
  21. bank — for money
  22. suit — to fit
  23. field — farmland
  24. bound — obliged

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