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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. ball — a great time
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mark — a trace
  6. rock — a stone
  7. stock — goods
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. wake — a trail
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. mug — to rob
  12. rock — music
  13. mug — a cup
  14. wound — an injury
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mug — a face
  17. wound — an injury
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ball — a dance
  20. stock — shares
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. mark — a grade
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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