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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. fall — to drop
  3. snap — to click
  4. board — to get on
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. fall — to drop
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. rock — music
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. stock — shares
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. fall — the season
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. board — a committee
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. rock — a stone
  23. stock — goods
  24. bowl — to roll

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