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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. ball — a great time
  4. object — a thing
  5. content — happy
  6. mate — a friend
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. object — to protest
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. fine — high quality
  15. mate — a partner
  16. stock — shares
  17. content — the amount
  18. ball — a dance
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. mate — to breed
  21. stock — goods
  22. stand — to bear
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. object — an aim

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