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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 · fine · can · row · drill · fork · mate · perch

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. drill — the tool
  3. drill — a practice
  4. perch — the fish
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. fine — all right
  8. drill — army training
  9. field — a subject
  10. can — a tin
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. mate — a partner
  13. field — farmland
  14. mate — a friend
  15. fine — high quality
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. row — to paddle
  18. fork — in a road
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. field — for sport
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. row — a line
  23. can — to be able to
  24. can — a tin

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