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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 116 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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. file — a line of people
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. file — a document
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. file — a tool
  7. stock — shares
  8. net — for catching
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. content — the amount
  11. stock — goods
  12. can — a tin
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. can — to be able to
  17. mug — a face
  18. can — a tin
  19. content — happy
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. net — in sport
  22. net — after costs
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. mug — a cup

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