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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. charge — electricity
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. prune — to trim
  7. stock — shares
  8. charge — in control
  9. fall — the season
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. fall — to drop
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. mark — a grade
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. fall — to drop
  20. charge — a price
  21. stock — goods
  22. prune — to trim
  23. mark — a trace
  24. lie — to recline

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