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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.

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

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. stock — goods
  6. press — a publisher
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. deal — to handle
  10. press — newspapers
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. can — to be able to
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. stock — shares
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. press — to push
  19. can — a tin
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. safe — out of danger

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