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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 ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. date — the fruit
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. stock — shares
  10. wound — an injury
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. stock — goods
  13. roll — a list
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. pass — a permit
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. roll — a cake
  18. can — to be able to
  19. wound — an injury
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. mine — for digging
  24. safe — out of danger

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