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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. stock — shares
  4. stock — goods
  5. net — in sport
  6. net — after costs
  7. lie — to recline
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. net — for catching

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