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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 120 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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. stock — goods
  5. pit — in a race
  6. branch — a division
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. suit — to fit
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. march — the month
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. stock — shares
  15. wound — an injury
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. suit — in cards
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. pit — a hole
  22. march — music
  23. wound — an injury
  24. march — the month

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