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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. stock — goods
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. fall — the season
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — to be able to
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. pass — a permit
  10. content — the amount
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. stock — shares
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. fall — to drop
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. kick — in football
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. content — happy
  23. fall — to drop
  24. plane — a tool

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