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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 116 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: perch · net · ruler · field · calf · track · stand · game

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. field — a subject
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. track — a song
  5. stand — to bear
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. game — a match
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. net — for catching
  10. net — in sport
  11. field — for sport
  12. game — wild animals
  13. field — farmland
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. track — a path
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. perch — the fish
  21. track — to keep track
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. net — after costs
  24. calf — a young animal

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