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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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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: mouse · field · lean · trunk · row · pass · rest · safe

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. row — a line
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. rest — what's left
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rest — what's left
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. pass — a permit
  12. row — to paddle
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. field — a subject
  16. lean — thin
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. field — farmland
  21. rest — a break
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. lean — to bend

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