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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. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. stock — shares
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. court — of law
  8. mug — to rob
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. court — of a king
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. vault — a safe
  18. court — for sport
  19. mug — a face
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. ruler — a monarch
  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