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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. stock — goods
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. pass — a permit
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. last — final
  12. file — a line of people
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. file — a document
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. file — a tool
  17. rush — hurry
  18. last — to go on
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. last — finally
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. stock — shares

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