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

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. stock — goods
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bound — obliged
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. fine — all right
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. rush — hurry
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. field — a subject
  18. bound — certain
  19. field — for sport
  20. fine — high quality
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. stock — shares
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. field — farmland

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