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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. march — the month
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. march — music
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. march — the month
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. shower — rain
  10. shower — to wash
  11. saw — the tool
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. saw — the tool
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. mark — a trace
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. stock — goods
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. stock — shares
  23. mark — a grade
  24. hide — animal skin

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