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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 ________________ market has crashed.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. pit — a hole
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. charge — electricity
  11. key — in music
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. charge — a price
  15. key — for a lock
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. pit — in a race
  19. charge — in control
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. stock — goods
  22. key — the most important part
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. lash — to lash out

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