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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. fork — in a road
  6. object — to protest
  7. track — a song
  8. stock — shares
  9. object — a thing
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. object — an aim
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. track — a path
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. track — to keep track
  24. stock — goods

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