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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. wake — a trail
  3. stand — to bear
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. stock — shares
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bear — the animal
  9. rest — what's left
  10. charge — in control
  11. bear — the animal
  12. charge — electricity
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. mark — a grade
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rest — a break
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. charge — a price
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. mark — a trace
  23. stock — goods
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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