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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: mug · arm · mark · rash · roll · object · fine · field

  1. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. field — farmland
  2. field — a subject
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. roll — a list
  5. object — to protest
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. mug — a cup
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. object — an aim
  11. mark — a trace
  12. object — a thing
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. roll — a cake
  15. mug — to rob
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. mark — a grade
  18. rash — hasty
  19. field — for sport
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. fine — all right
  22. mug — a face
  23. fine — high quality
  24. rash — a series

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