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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: field · leaves · toast · bowl · racket · charge · rest · ball

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. ball — a dance
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. field — for sport
  8. charge — electricity
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. field — a subject
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. toast — bread
  13. ball — a great time
  14. charge — a price
  15. rest — what's left
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. charge — in control
  23. rest — a break
  24. field — farmland

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