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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. roll — a list
  4. stock — shares
  5. staff — employees
  6. stock — goods
  7. suit — to fit
  8. net — in sport
  9. bore — to tire
  10. sharp — clever
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. staff — employees
  13. roll — a cake
  14. net — for catching
  15. bore — to drill
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. suit — in cards
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. net — after costs
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. staff — a stick
  24. mouse — the animal

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