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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: bowl · ball · fan · can · fork · bore · pass · field

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. field — a subject
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. ball — a dance
  11. fork — in a road
  12. can — a tin
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bore — to drill
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. pass — a permit
  17. ball — a great time
  18. field — farmland
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. bore — to tire
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fork — a garden tool

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